Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has retained the backing of the club’s football leadership structure with no immediate plans to sack him.
Sky Sports reports that while there is consensus that the non-performance in the 3-0 drubbing against Tottenham was unacceptable, the hierarchy’s focus at the moment remains on providing support to Ten Hag, his backroom staff, and the players to turn their fortunes around.
Ten Hag is set to remain at Old Trafford for the tough tests against Porto and Aston Villa, ahead of the international break as pressure intensifies on his job, amid over £600 million being spent on recruitment since his appointment.
United’s defeat to Tottenham on Sunday was a successive 3-0 home league loss after Liverpool also comprehensively outplayed the Red Devils.
Ahead of the capitulation against Spurs, there was internal belief that the team was showing signs of improvement with both their attacking and defensive metrics improving, with a lack of clinical edge the biggest concern.
However, familiar bad habits – like not putting pressure against the ball and being so easy to play against – keep resurfacing, which increases the scrutiny on Ten Hag.
Sunday’s defeat showcased the flaws that leave United 12th in the table, already six points off the Champions League places with as many games played.
Premier League: Tottenham sink Man United at Old Trafford
They have failed to score in three of their past four league encounters and only 19th-placed Southampton have struggled to find the net more than Ten Hag’s side this season.
It builds up to another critical week in the manager’s tenure. His European record in charge of United is poor, with a sole win in the past nine continental fixtures, rendering the trip to Porto daunting.
Unai Emery’s in-form Villa, on a four-match unbeaten league run, will also be taxing challenge for a side low on confidence.
Ten Hag has rescued his job and escaped the axe on more than one occasion, most significantly in the summer after winning the FA Cup – his second trophy at the club.
United held a review, which included having discussions with Thomas Tuchel, Roberto De Zerbi, Mauricio Pochettino, Kieran McKenna, and Thomas Frank about the possibility of becoming their new manager.
After a two-and-a-half week process, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford opted to stick with Ten Hag and triggered the option is his contract, extending his deal by a further 12 months.
On Sunday, Ten Hag insisted he was not concerned about his future, saying: “No, I am not thinking about this.
“We all made this decision to stay together, as an ownership, as a leadership group in the summer.”
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