In the hours before Manchester United played Liverpool on September 1 last year, chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth sat down with journalists in the Old Trafford boardroom to discuss the transfer window and start to the season under Erik ten Hag.
It was the first time senior executives had publicly discussed Ten Hag’s situation since Ineos had touted his job to a long list of candidates before United’s rousing victory over Manchester City in the 2024 FA Cup final and then given the Dutchman a stay of execution and a new contract during a summit meeting in Ibiza.