Manchester United suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at home to Tottenham on Sunday, a result that has sparked concern within the club. However, there are no immediate plans to replace manager Erik ten Hag, with the club's leadership still showing faith in him.
Despite the frustration following the defeat, Manchester United's hierarchy remains focused on providing support to Ten Hag, his coaching staff, and the squad to help turn things around. While the performance against Tottenham was deemed unacceptable, the club's board is determined to give the Dutch manager the time and resources needed to improve the team's fortunes.
Ten Hag has been under pressure, particularly with the team’s struggles this season. Following the loss to Tottenham, which marked their second consecutive 3-0 home defeat after a similar result against Liverpool, questions have been raised about the team's progress. There had been signs of improvement in recent matches, but the lack of a clinical edge continues to be a problem.
United’s upcoming fixtures are crucial. They face Porto in the Champions League and Aston Villa in the Premier League, both of which will be live on Sky Sports. These games will be a test for Ten Hag, especially as pressure mounts following significant spending on recruitment since his appointment, totaling over £600 million.
The defeat to Spurs has left United sitting 12th in the league, six points off the Champions League places after just six matches. Their struggles in front of goal are a significant concern, with the team failing to score in three of their last four league games. Only Southampton, who are currently 19th in the table, have found the net fewer times this season.
Ten Hag’s European record has also been under scrutiny, with only one win in United’s last nine continental fixtures. This makes the upcoming trip to Porto even more daunting. Additionally, Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, who are unbeaten in their last four league matches, will pose a tough challenge for a Manchester United side lacking confidence.
Despite these struggles, Ten Hag has managed to survive difficult periods before, most notably after winning the FA Cup last season. Following that triumph, United held a review and considered other managerial candidates such as Thomas Tuchel, Roberto De Zerbi, and Mauricio Pochettino. However, after a thorough process, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford decided to stick with Ten Hag, extending his contract by another year.
Although there have been moments where the club’s faith in Ten Hag seemed to waver, especially during their discussions with other potential managers, United’s leadership still believes he is the right person for the job. Ahead of their defeat to Liverpool earlier this month, the board reiterated their commitment to Ten Hag, despite some internal disagreements.
Ten Hag, for his part, remains calm and defiant about his future at the club. "I'm not thinking about that," he said when asked if he was concerned about his position. "We made the decision as a group to stay together this summer, from the ownership to the leadership team. We know it will take time to build the squad and improve as a team, especially with the challenges we faced during the transfer window."
He continued, "We are all on the same page, working together to move forward. I don’t have any concerns about that."
As Manchester United looks ahead to a critical period, the pressure is undoubtedly on Ten Hag. However, the club’s leadership remains behind him, at least for now, as they strive to turn around what has been a difficult start to the season.
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