It’s safe to say that being the Manchester United manager is one of the most scrutinised positions in world football, and Erik ten Hag is learning that the hard way.
After overseeing the club’s worst start to a season in 61 years, reports have begun doing the rounds suggesting that the Dutchman may not last the season in the Old Trafford dugout and that the board have compiled a manager shortlist in case the situation worsens.
For United fans, it’ll come as absolutely no surprise. This scenario – a diabolical run of form, leaks from the dressing room and speculation of players turning on the manager – has been in a ‘rinse and repeat’ cycle ever since Sir Alex Ferguson bid his farewell.
Following two consecutive 3-0 defeats, United’s first chance at bouncing back comes this afternoon when they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage in a Premier League outing. Midweek also poses a career-defining game for Ten Hag, as the Reds’ Champions League hopes could wither away if they see out anything less than a win against Copenhagen away from home.
Ten Hag on recent stresses
Given that he’s currently the talk of the town, Ten Hag was asked how he has been dealing with the mounting pressure in Friday’s press conference.
“I do nothing different [to handle the pressure]. At the end of the day, it is about 11 against 11 and it is about refereeing,” he said, as quoted by ManUtd.com. “You have to face the opposition and you have to prepare the team and you do that on the training pitch. You do that during the week here at Carrington and prepare the team as good as possible as a team and individuals.
“So always when the team is not playing well, you think about how to get it right. But for the rest, I am not thinking about things away from the team and of course, sometimes I have commented on that question before. I need my relaxation to get the energy. But for now, it is 24/7. You think about how do I get this right.”
