Ten Hag is sacked LIVE: Manchester United introduces the next interim coach

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund posted on his Instagram story following Erik ten Hag’s sacking.

He wrote: “Thanks for everything boss. I wish you all the best for the future.”

With Ruud van Nistelrooy now acting as interim manager for Manchester United, here’s what to expect in his first few games.

First up is Leicester City in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford. The game takes place on Wednesday evening, which is an incredibly short period of time.

They then play Chelsea in the Premier League this weekend and PAOK in Europe next week before another home league game against Leicester.

Four games in quick succession is certainly a test, but Van Nistelrooy could come out of it with a good result if he wins all of these games.

There was a time when Manchester United came to West Ham, Wayne Rooney shot from 57 meters and scored. Many comparisons with the past can damn this United team, but a decade later Diogo Dalot arrived at West Ham, aimed at an unguarded goal from eight yards and missed. Whether it was excruciating or just amusing depends on your perspective, but it was costly in summing up Manchester United’s self-destructive streak.

They managed to lose a game in which they had been absurdly and astonishingly dominant before the break. Dalot was the worst perpetrator, but not the only one. “I collected six or seven 100 percent chances that we should have scored,” said Erik Ten Hag. “But in football the best team doesn’t always win.” And United’s best half of the season still resulted in a fourth defeat.

BBC Sport reports on the net spending by each Manchester United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at the club. The numbers are listed below.

Erik ten Hag has the highest net spend (money spent minus money recovered from sales) of any Manchester United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson.

David Moyes (2013-14) £60.7m – Total: £60.7m

Louis Van Gaal (2014-16) £110m + £41.3m – Total: £151.3m

Jose Mourinho (2016-2018) £104m + £135m + £49m – Total: £288m

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (2019-21) £143m + £66.5m + £97.4m – Total: £306.9m

Erik Ten Hag (2022-24) £187.8m + £118.20m + £95m – Total: £401m

(Figures provided by FootballTransfers.com for BBC Sport)

Frank has gained a reputation as one of Europe’s most innovative coaches since Brentford’s move to the Premier League and was reportedly one of several managers who held talks with United over the summer as the club looked for possible replacements for Ten Hag.

Erik ten Hag was relieved of his duties as Manchester United head coach following the 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday 27 October.

The Ten Hag team is in 14th place in the Premier League with three wins, two draws and four defeats from the first nine games of the season. It is the worst start to a Premier League season at this point in the club’s history.

The Dutchman’s two seasons as manager brought a Carabao Cup and an FA Cup to Old Trafford, but a lack of style and failure to imprint his own vision on the team led to his downfall.

When asked if he would be keen to succeed Erik ten Hag, the Brentford boss said: “I have a huge responsibility to Brentford Football Club, the fans, the management, the players and the staff. One focus is to beat Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup.

“I am very happy here, one of the best clubs in the world. Who knows what will happen in the future, but I am very happy here.

“At the moment I’m just here and enjoying life here. I always try to be as transparent as possible, I feel very comfortable here and I can imagine that I will stay here for a very, very long time in the future.

“I just want to concentrate on Sheffield Wednesday, get on with the game and try to win.”

Brentford manager Thomas Frank. is one of the names being touted as a possible replacement for Erik ten Hag. The Bees face Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup tomorrow and he was speaking at a press conference.

On Ten Hag’s dismissal, Frank said: “Of course I feel for Erik. He is a great coach and has a great career. He did a good job at Man United, two trophies in two years.

“It is a non-stop developing world and that is more than acceptable. At these big clubs there are huge expectations but there has to be a reality check… You feel sorry for people who lose their jobs and I’m sure Erik gave it his all.

“There are better people who can judge that (improvement). “He had a very good first season and had some injury problems.”

Manchester United have lost nine Premier League games through 90th-minute goals in their entire history. Seven of these came from the 85 games that Erik ten Hag played as coach.