‘Only focusing on the process’ – Ten Hag blocking out noise surrounding his future

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 24: Erik ten Hag, Manager of Manchester United, applauds the fans following the team’s defeat during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham FC at Old Trafford on February 24, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Erik ten Hag is not demanding a public vote of confident from Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

We’ve seen the pressure mount of Ten Hag’s shoulders this season and now speculation is non-stop surrounding his future. A report on Tuesday suggested Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ‘not completely sold’ on the United manager and his Ineos Sports group are interested in Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi.

A promising run of results in between January and February ended with a dismal performance in defeat to Fulham last weekend. There has been a lot written about Ten Hag’s future since then.

With an FA Cup fifth-round tie on the cards tonight against Nottingham Forest, Ten Hag and his players are fully aware that the pressure will ratchet up again if they fail to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the game, Ten Hag said (via The Independent): “I’m here, I’m under contract for three seasons, so I don’t care. I’m only focusing on the process so I don’t care what’s going around me.

“I have many talks with Jim Ratcliffe but especially also with Dave Brailsford so I know what we are talking about. I have a strong belief and I feel that they believe in me.

“I’m just focusing on the team and I have to find solutions for this team that they perform in the best way they can. It’s all about focusing on this and don’t get distracted by any noise.

“We’re talking about the future, we’re talking about a future together.”

Let us know in the comments section if you think Ten Hag will be keeping his job in the summer.

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