Man United have ‘wasted’ the season, with ‘£200m down the drain’ – and Erik ten Hag ISN’T the main man to blame, says Jamie Carragher, as he names three questionable big-money buys

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Manchester United’s decision to stick with Erik ten Hag in the summer will be ‘the catalyst for another wasted campaign.’

In his latest column for The Telegraph, Carragher launched a stinging attack on the United leadership group, most notably co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

He also took aim at chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox, who all arrived in the summer from Manchester City, Newcastle United and Southampton respectively.

‘The new United hierarchy have made a deeply unimpressive start to their Old Trafford reign with one of their worst decisions being the most important any board can make,’ Carragher wrote.

‘Above all, you must ensure you have the right manager. Retaining Ten Hag is proving the catalyst for another wasted campaign and possibly another £200m down the drain.’ 

Jamie Carragher has taken a major swipe at Manchester United’s hierarchy in a column

Carragher reserved plenty of criticism for Ratcliffe, who handed Ten Hag a new deal in July

Erik ten Hag is under the microscope after Manchester United’s poor start to the season

Ratcliffe was the key decision-maker behind handing Ten Hag a contract extension in the summer after the Dutchman guided the Red Devils to a shock FA Cup victory over Manchester City.

The decision to extend Ten Hag’s stay came as a surprise to many after United finished 8th in the league last season and shipped 58 goals, the most they have conceded in Premier League history.

United also lost 14 games in the English top flight last term, which set another unwanted record for Ten Hag.

The club even sounded out prospective managers to replace Ten Hag, but elected to stick rather than twist.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Ten Hag’s future prior to his contract extension, it left some, including Carragher, puzzled as to why they sanctioned a major spending spree in the summer.

Ratcliffe green-lit United’s £179million expenditure in the summer as Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui all arrived.

However, Yoro has not played a competitive fixture after he was injured in pre-season while many of the signings are yet to convince.

Carragher felt it was a large sum of money to spend on players, especially since Ten Hag’s job has never felt completely safe.

Carragher is yet to be convinced by De Ligt after his rough start to life in Manchester

Ten Hag was allowed to bring in several new faces in the summer, but at significant cost

Carragher questioned what happens if a new boss comes in and isn’t a fan of the new signings

‘And did no one raise the issue that if sticking with him backfired, his eventual replacement might not believe Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte are the right fit for them?’ Carragher said.

That scenario could be a reality should United’s poor form this season continue.

Ten Hag’s side sit 13th in the Premier League and have lost three of six games, with a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham last Sunday especially damaging.

United also tossed away a 2-0 lead against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, although Harry Maguire salvaged a 3-3 draw. 

Speaking ahead of the Porto clash, Ten Hag revealed he had held conversations with United’s top brass but didn’t feel he was under any extra pressure going into the game.

‘We talk every day and we are on a common journey,’ Ten Hag said.

‘We made that agreement in the summer. We made our decisions, we refreshed and reset the staff. I appointed my assistants. We refreshed the squad as well.’

Ten Hag will lead his side into a crunch fixture away to Aston Villa on Sunday.