'There is no point sugar-coating it' - Jamie Carragher gives brutal verdict on INEOS as Man Utd lurch from one disaster to the next under embattled Erik ten Hag

INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed their minority takeover of Manchester United earlier this year and they didn't have to wait too long before having to make a big decision on the future of Ten Hag at Old Trafford after a poor end to the Premier League season. However, after the Red Devils won the FA Cup, the British multinational conglomerate decided to keep the Ten Hag at the club and handed him a two-year contract extension.

However, Manchester United's performances haven't improved this season and results have been hard to come by. The Red Devils have won just three of their 10 games in all competitions since the start of the season, ratcheting up the pressure on ten Hag. Liverpool legend Carragher has now blamed INEOS for the trouble this season.

In his column with The Telegraph, Carragher wrote: "If Manchester United fail to massively improve this season, the ultimate responsibility lies with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos. The latest mess is on their watch, with United already struggling to convince they are equipped to qualify for next year’s Champions League.

"There is no point sugar-coating it. 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. 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.

"At first, the noises around the head coach sounded like an astute way of securing a replacement in time for the next pre-season. By the time they decided to keep Ten Hag, it was revealed to be a fudge. Ineos froze after Ten Hag won the FA Cup and took the easy way out by giving him another chance.

"It is obvious there were serious doubts about Ten Hag’s ability to lead the rebuild. Those concerns were justified so whenever a board starts looking elsewhere, it is the beginning of the end of their relationship. It is not even that the trust has gone – it was never really there to begin with."

INEOS have reportedly given Ten Hag one last opportunity to show that he can turn United's fortunes around. The Dutchman will have to lead his side to a win against Aston Villa when the two sides face off at Villa Park on Sunday, October 6.