Erik ten Hag opens up on stand off with Ineos during summer turmoil as he admits communication STOPPED with Man United bosses before 'confrontational' Ibiza showdown

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Erik ten Hag has opened up on the ‘honest and confrontational’ Ibiza talks which saved his Manchester United job. 

There was a growing sense that Ten Hag would be axed regardless of the outcome of the FA Cup final. But after defeating Manchester City at Wembley, Ten Hag gave co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team a decision to make, wich ended up with them jetting to Ibiza to meet Ten Hag for talks. 

‘The communication did fall away, yes,’ Ten Hag said, in a wide-ranging interview with Dutch publication AD. 

‘But I just celebrated holidays with my loved ones, and I let things come to me. It’s not like I panicked. It’s a decision that wasn’t in my hands. I just waited for it. 

'At that moment you just think in two scenarios: whether we continue, or not. It’s that simple.’ In Ibiza, Mail Sport previously reported that there was a four-hour summit which took the format of a frank, honest and ‘grown up conversation’. 

Erik ten Hag (middle) has explained why he did not panic when communication with Ineos ceased over the summer with his job in limbo (pictured on holiday with his family)

Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right) and his Ineos team eventually decided to back Ten Hag with a new deal

Now, opening up on that discussion, Ten Hag described it as ‘confrontational’ and robust. 

‘The argument they gave was in a short summary: we looked at everything and put it next to each other, but we think we already have the best manager in house,’ he said. 

‘Then I said, “Then we have to discuss a number of things, about how we interact with each other and work together”. We had a good, honest, but also confrontational conversation about that. As it should be at the top.’ 

Ten Hag added: ‘I am very pleased to have reached agreement with the club. Looking back at the past two years, we can reflect with pride on two trophies and many examples of progression. 

After winning the FA Cup final, Ten Hag remained calm before a 'confrontational' Ibiza summit

Ten Hag has been handed a one-year contract extension to keep him at the club until 2026

However, we must be clear there is still lots of hard work ahead to reach the levels expected’ Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke with former Bayern and Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, while Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Frank were also courted. 

There was also interest in former first team coach Kieran McKenna, who elected to stay at Ipswich. 

This month United gave the Dutchman a one-year contract extension on existing terms until June 2026, indicating support for Ten Hag from a leadership team that includes new sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox. 

Ashworth welcomed the news ahead of Ten Hag’s return for pre-season training, saying: ‘While the club’s review of last season highlighted areas for improvement, it also reached a clear conclusion that Erik was the best partner for us to work with.’