Manchester United’s Dutch supervisor Erik ten Hag. Photograph: Glyn KIRK / AFP.
Erik ten Hag is adamant he nonetheless has the backing of Manchester United’s hierarchy because the under-fire boss prepares for an important Premier League conflict at Aston Villa.
Simply three months after signing a contract extension, Ten Hag is combating to avoid wasting his job following a troubled begin to the season.
Sunday’s dismal 3-0 residence defeat towards Tottenham was compounded by a 3-3 draw at Porto within the Europa League on Thursday, with United needing Harry Maguire’s objective in time added on to rescue a degree after blowing a two-goal lead.
United are languishing in thirteenth place within the Premier League with solely two wins from six video games, simply months after an eighth-place end that ranked because the membership’s worst since 1990.
Ten Hag’s aspect did win the FA Cup final season after touchdown the League Cup a yr earlier.
However, within the present local weather across the Dutchman, a loss to Villa could be a significant blow to his hopes of avoiding the sack in his third season at Outdated Trafford.
Requested if he felt there was endurance inside the United fanbase and hierarchy, Ten Hag mentioned: “I’m not fascinated by such points as a result of that isn’t a subject.
“We’re in there collectively, the possession, the management staff, the employees. I appointed a brand new employees, we purchased once more new younger gamers and now we have to combine them.
“Like we simply talked about Manuel Ugarte, the six place was completely one of many subjects we wish to signal for the season however he wants time to combine.
“And I do know in high soccer you don’t get time, they need to carry out instantly, but it surely’s not all the time real looking.”
Ten Hag’s perception doesn’t masks the multitude of points plaguing a United staff that lacks metal on the again, cohesion in midfield and a leading edge up entrance.
The Porto sport was the twenty fourth time in all competitions that United conceded three or extra objectives in a match since Ten Hag’s appointment.
“What’s the psychological situation? So, there’s a vary, it’s a spectrum of subjects and it’s important to deal with it proper,” he mentioned.
“This staff has the assumption that they don’t quit, in order that they have a powerful mentality.
“However in another components they need to step up if you wish to win trophies, yeah, undoubtedly in some areas now we have to enhance.”