Copyright manchestereveningnews
Many Manchester United supporters felt a sense of relief when Erik ten Hag was finally dismissed last year - but the sentiment was far from mutual. The Dutch coach, removed from his post exactly one year ago after a poor start to the campaign, made his feelings crystal clear in the days following his exit. In a heartfelt message to United fans , Ten Hag acknowledged that "the dream has come to an end." He went on to express gratitude for their "unshakeable" backing and said he would "cherish" the memories of lifting two trophies - the FA Cup and the League Cup . "Dear fans, let me start by thanking you," he wrote. "Thank you for always being there for the club. Whether it was at a game far away or a tough match at Old Trafford , your support has been unshakeable." He added: "We won two trophies - achievements that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Of course, my dream was to bring more trophies to the cabinet. Unfortunately, the dream has come to an end. "I wish all Manchester United fans nothing but success, trophies and glory. Your support and the warmth I received from everyone at the club helped me feel at home. Thank you for this chapter in my life, Erik." Ten Hag's spell in charge lasted just over two years. Even though he became the first United boss to claim silverware since Jose Mourinho in 2017, his reign was ultimately overshadowed by inconsistency. Short bursts of improvement were often followed by prolonged slumps in form, as Ten Hag failed to recapture the attacking rhythm and creativity that had defined his Ajax teams. He steered United to the League Cup title in 2023, beating Newcastle 2-0 in the final and later reached the FA Cup final that same season. United fell short against their local rivals Manchester City on that occasion, but they took revenge a year later, toppling City to lift the 2024 FA Cup. That triumph temporarily saved Ten Hag's position after United slumped to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League that year. However, a disastrous opening to the 2024/25 season left club owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe with little choice but to act. Within days, Ruben Amorim was unveiled as Ten Hag's successor. A year on from Ten Hag's dismissal, United remain almost as unpredictable as before. Amorim struggled to steady the ship last term, with the team tumbling to a record-low 15th-place league finish. To make matters worse, they were defeated by Tottenham in the Europa League final, missing out on a Champions League spot. The 2025/26 season started in much the same fashion, but a run of three consecutive league wins - against Brighton, Liverpool and Sunderland - has provided a small sign that momentum might finally be shifting for both Amorim and United. This weekend, the Red Devils travel to Nottingham Forest, where a win would mark four victories in a row - something they haven't achieved in nearly two years. After that, they'll have a shot at redemption against Spurs before entering the final international break of the calendar year. Now, Amorim finds himself at a crossroads. If he can maintain this recent surge, he may yet turn his time at Old Trafford into the very "dream" Ten Hag once spoke of - bringing back belief, order and direction to the club. But if United revert to their old patterns, the optimism could vanish just as fast. And history suggests that inconsistency at Manchester United seldom escapes consequences. Here at the Manchester Evening News, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis. Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories. And finally, if you’d rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts , and you can also watch along on YouTube .
