Dan Ashworth left Manchester United after five months due to a combination of factors, including disagreements over the appointment of a head coach and his lack of assertiveness in decision-making. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club's owner, was reportedly underwhelmed by parts of Ashworth's approach, leading to a mutual decision for him to leave.
Dan Ashworth's hiring and subsequent departure cost Manchester United a significant amount, including the £3 million paid to secure him from Newcastle and potential severance pay. The club also spent five months on gardening leave before he officially joined.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was reportedly underwhelmed by Dan Ashworth's performance, particularly in his role in the head coach appointment process. Ratcliffe felt Ashworth was not assertive enough in pushing for specific candidates, leading to dissatisfaction with his contributions.
Omar Barada, the club's chief executive, played a significant role in the decision to let Dan Ashworth go. Barada was instrumental in the appointment of Ruben Amorim as head coach, which Ashworth reportedly disagreed with. Barada's influence and relationship with Ratcliffe were key factors in the decision.
Dan Ashworth's departure shocked many within Manchester United, particularly at Carrington, where he was regarded as the main figure leading the sporting side of the club. The mutual decision, while framed as amicable, left a gap in the club's leadership structure.
Manchester United honored Kath Phipps with black armbands, a minute's applause, and personal tributes from players during a match. Phipps, who served the club for over 55 years, was deeply loved and respected by everyone at the club, including former players like David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.
Manchester United's loss to Nottingham Forest was marked by poor set-piece defending, a goalkeeping error by Andre Onana, and a lack of physicality in defense. The team conceded three soft goals, which undermined their overall performance despite some positive attacking play.
Ruben Amorim's rotation policy, which saw several changes to the starting lineup, contributed to a lack of cohesion and defensive stability. The decision to substitute Bruno Fernandes with 15 minutes left also raised questions, as it disrupted the team's attacking momentum.
Manchester United face a competitive Viktoria Pilsen side known for their functional tactics and unbeaten record in UEFA Cup games. The Czech team, led by experienced coach Miroslav Koubek, poses a threat with players like Pavel Schulz, who is in good goal-scoring form.
After a tumultuous, albeit entirely precedented, weekend at Manchester United football club we break down two huge exclusives involving the team.
On Sunday The Athletic's David Ornstein, Adam Crafton, and Laurie Whitwell combined to reveal that Sporting Director Dan Ashworth would leave after just five months in the job. Meanwhile, Andy Mitten published a lengthy and wide-ranging conversation with club minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
We also take time, as everyone at Old Trafford did before the defeat to Nottingham Forest, to share tributes to the club's longest-serving staff member (perhaps ever), the much-loved Kath Phipps.
We just about found time to talk about some football, much of which wasn't great; but was it all that bad?
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