Many people did not find it surprising that Graham Potter was fired by Chelsea. Even though Chelsea has a reputation for firing managers quickly, one of the most successful Premier League teams in recent years also finished in 11th place.
Thomas Tuchel was fired from Chelsea less than six months into Todd Boehly's stint as interim sporting director, but Chelsea's disarray under new ownership still persists.
Given Chelsea's past and Potter's bad management, this case does hold up in a football court, but there are still deeper, underlying side effects at work that could cause Erik ten Hag to get alarmed.
A takeover bid is actively underway at Manchester United. The allegedly final round of bidding has already ended, and things are going quickly.
Given Todd Boehly's irrational exploits in English football after becoming the face of Clearlake Capital's ownership of Chelsea, the club is on track to become the most expensive sporting organization in Europe, and Ten Hag will, regrettably, have to become a manager whose job is in jeopardy.
This is not a retaliatory remark. Due to a telling pattern in the acquisitions of important European teams, it is more of a warning.
Since 2010, the majority ownership of Paris Saint-Germain, Valencia, Everton, Internazionale, Milan, and Chelsea has changed. And within six months after the completion of the takeovers, all - every single club - fired their first team manager.
Naturally, when/if they acquire majority ownership of United, the Qataris and INEOS can be expected to declare that they "aim to reestablish Manchester United as a footballing powerhouse under the stewardship of Erik ten Hag, who we fully support, etc." There is a cause to believe that the new owners' claims that they will "fully support Ten Hag" are empty promises despite the rhetoric's apparent optimism and rose-colored tint. United supporters have finally discovered a manager they believe to be 100% the perfect choice.
Even if they do start off by supporting Ten Hag, it is alarming to note that new owners typically wait until they have the chance or the right occasion to fire the current manager and replace him with "their" man.
In April 2017, Li Yonghong acquired Milan under the Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux name with funding provided by Elliott Management Corporation, a hedge company that has made money accessible for the Glazers.
Just a few weeks after Li took over Milan, Vincenzo Montella received a new contract. However, he was fired in November 2017, just over six months after the new owner took over and less than six months after signing his new contract. Despite Milan 'backing' their manager with a €200 million transfer window splurge, Montella was given just three months to assemble these new additions into a strong team.
Suning Holdings Group acquired majority ownership of Inter in June 2016, taking place one year before their opponent. Two months later, Roberto Mancini departed the team of his choice; two years prior, he helped Italy win the European Championship.
Peter Lim, a co-owner of Salford City, acquired Valencia in May 2014. In July, Juan Antonio Pizzi was fired. Pizzi had barely had time to embed his ideology and tactical ideals into the team before he was fired after just six months in command.
Fahrad Moshiri, the previous majority owner of Arsenal, acquired Everton in the Premier League in February 2016. Three months later, in May, Roberto Martinez was terminated. The same season, he had led Everton to two domestic semi-finals, but the club's League performances had shocked the supporters.
Todd Boehly, who had spent €200 million in the summer to'support' Thomas Tuchel's setup, of course fired the Champions League winning manager. Graham Potter has now taken the same hit; no matter the phony media declarations of understanding and devotion to a promising manager, there is just no level of loyalty or patience when billions of pounds are at stake.
Then came the Qataris. Using the closed shareholder Qatar Sports Investments model, they acquired PSG in June 2011. The following summer, they made their presence felt in European football by spending millions on new players. Six months after the Emir of Qatar acquired the primary ownership of the company, Antoine Koumbouare was fired in December. The team dominated Ligue 1.
Through these most recent significant takeovers, a clear trend can be observed. Regardless of any pledges of support or loyalty, managers are fired when the right opportunity arises, whether that be due to a disagreement over the new management of the club or the inability to immediately reverse the on-pitch fortunes after millions in player investments.
I don't think anyone at Manchester United would want Ten Hag's job to be in jeopardy. I doubt John Murtough, Andy O'Boyle, or Richard Arnold, who make up the football hierarchy, have even regarded that as a remote possibility in the near future.
But it is, as recent history demonstrates. The fact that United are about to be acquired leads to a second fact. That despite almost universal support, Ten Hag's position as manager in the long run is precarious.
Three months after Milan supported him with €200 million in the summer transfer market, Montella was fired. The new ownership had just given him a new contract. Thomas Tuchel too had an unfair departure. In La Mestalla, Pizzi had hardly any time to establish himself.
These managers appeared to have support, but they were forced to deal with the heinous betrayal of what ultimately turned out to be empty promises.
In his first season as Manchester United manager, Ten Hag has already demonstrated his qualities, suitability, and motivation. He is the right choice right now.
Every fan has a responsibility to be aware of the strategies used by the new proprietors. When they take their seats in the director's box at Old Trafford for the first time, they will be waiting and prepared with their pistols already loaded. for the right and acceptable moment to pull the trigger. The ability to step back, see, and recognize when foul play is occurring is necessary for United supporters.
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