Manchester United are standing by Erik ten Hag but results must improve soon, or else the Dutchman will be without a job.
Pressure is building on the back of three games without a win for Manchester United. The team are currently preparing for two back-to-back away games against FC Porto and Aston Villa, making it difficult for Ten Hag to turn things around during a pivotal week.
United lost 3-0 against Tottenham on Sunday. The defeat means we’re positioned in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a minus-goal difference. It suggests that the team has gone backwards since last season.
According to the Daily Mail, United are calm but are uncomfortable with any suggestion that Ten Hag has two games to avoid the sack.
The games against Porto and Villa are closely followed by an international break. This will give United suits more time to make a decision but it’s not looking good for the manager.
On Sunday, however, Ten Hag insisted that he does not fear the sack and is aligned with the club.
“No, I’m not thinking about this,” Ten Hag said, as quoted by RTE. “We all made this decision to stay together, as an ownership, as a leadership group in the summer.
“Also we made the decision from a clear review what we have to improve as an organisation, but we knew it will take some time.
“We are all on one page, or in one boat, together – the ownership, the leadership group, the staff and the players as well. I don’t have that concern. Of course, there is always a new game, it will be a new day. We will bounce back.”
Ten Hag is bound to put on a brave face in the media, but he must be feeling the pressure at this point. The 1-1 draw against FC Twente was a blow – after losing to Liverpool in the league, but the result and performance against Tottenham was the worst we’ve seen this season.
The first half was one of the worst halves we’ve been subject to under Ten Hag and there has been some bad ones.
Tottenham were miles better than United, although I fear we made it very easy for them.
United’s record of two wins, a draw, and three defeats matches exactly how they started under David Moyes in the 2013-14 season. We all know how that turned out.
Subscribe to the Stretty News podcast Strettycast for weekly episodes on Manchester United. You can also sign up to the ad-free Stretty Newsletter. Get the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.
