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MANCHESTER United are standing by Erik ten Hag but the Dutchman faces a potentially pivotal week in the battle to save his job.
Ten Hag is under huge pressure again following Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford left United in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a minus goal difference.
Sources say the club are remaining calm in the face of the latest storm to engulf Ten Hag and are uncomfortable with any suggestion that he has two games to avoid the sack.
But there is an acceptance that results must improve and United will want to see a reaction from Ten Hag’s team in Thursday’s Europa League tie away to FC Porto and Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa.
It is followed by a two-week international break, which would give United’s minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe a clear opportunity to make a change if he decides that Ten Hag’s time is up.
United have lost half of their six Premier League games this season including back-to-back 3-0 defeats at home to Spurs and Liverpool.
It’s only a month since new chief executive Omar Berrada gave Ten Hag his public backing, and sources insist that everyone is still pulling in the same direction. But United will come under increasing pressure to act if the Dutch-man cannot stop the rot. Berrada and the other members of the leadership team — Sir Dave Brailsford, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox — sat stony-faced in the directors’ box at Old Trafford as goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke inflicted the latest blow on Ten Hag.
Afterwards the manager insisted that he does not fear the sack and is aligned with the club.
“No, I’m not thinking about this,’ he said. ‘We all made this decision to stay together, as an ownership, as a leader-ship 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.”
The pundits decoding the latest debacle were not so sure.
“Probably one of the worst halves I’ve seen under Ten Hag and that’s saying something,” said Gary Neville.
“(Ten Hag) can’t believe what he’s watching. I can’t believe what I’m watching, it’s awful. It really is bad.
“I suspect there were better Sunday league teams this morning that what we’ve seen from United this first half. Pub football.’
Meanwhile, Alan Shearer told The Rest Is Football: “Spurs were by miles the better team. They were up for it more than Man United were.
“They started really well, were the better team and I thought Man United were shambolic, awful, and lucky to get away with three.
“What are they? Can anyone tell me: what are Man United? What is their system, what is their plan?
“Do they sit? Do they attack? Do they press? I haven’t got a clue what they are. They’re a mess.”
After Micah Richards claimed United were “inconsistent,” Shearer hit back:
“Inconsistent? They’re 12th in the league. That means they’re not inconsistent — that means they’re b****y awful.”
United’s record of two wins, a draw, and three defeats is identical to how they started under David Moyes in the 2013-14 season — and fans know how that one turned out. — dailymail.co.uk
Online Reporter