Manchester United finished third in the Premier League during Erik ten Hag’s debut season, but they’ve been mired by inconsistency this term and find themselves outsiders in the battle for the top four, miles away from Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal
Erik ten Hag believes FFP concerns cost Manchester United a tilt at the title this season.
Ten Hag insists he was prevented from building on last year’s third-placed finish by budget restrictions caused by United’s need to balance the books. The Dutchman was desperate for the Reds to splash £100million on England striker Harry Kane.
Instead, they spent £72million on 21-year-old Rasmus Hojlund – and another £102million on Mason Mount and keeper Andre Onana. And Ten Hag admitted: “When we were in the summer, I thought we had very good momentum. We had finished third, we won one final, and were in another final. Then we chose to bring in young players for the future – and that had to do with FFP.
“That was the choice we made – but you then know it will take longer before you can come into the competition for the top positions in the Premier League or Champions League.”
A UEFA study published last week confirmed United boasted the most expensive squad in football last season.
A bank-busting total of £1.2billion had been spent on players, with Ten Hag himself handed a £400million transfer kitty during his first summer at Old Trafford.
But United continues to service growing debts which have exploded through the £1billion barrier under the 19-year tenure of the Glazer family that retains a majority ownership of the club despite selling a 25 percent stake to Sir Jim Ratcliffe for £1.3billion.
And concerns that they may fall foul of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules urged club bosses to ignore Ten Hag’s pleas to strike a loan deal for a striker last month.