Manchester United Maintain Support for Ten Hag Amidst Growing Pressure

Manchester United are reportedly set to retain Erik ten Hag as manager for the upcoming matches against FC Porto and Aston Villa, despite the team’s recent downturn in form, as reports BBC Sport. The Red Devils suffered a demoralizing defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday, contributing to their disappointing placement at 12th in the Premier League standings. Senior sources within the club have indicated that it remains “business as usual,” with a focus on the forthcoming fixtures. Official commentary from the club, however, remains absent.

Erik ten Hag, addressing the media after the defeat, stated that he was “not thinking” about losing his managerial position and affirmed that both he and the club’s new owners were “on the same page.” The Dutch manager, who signed a new contract over the summer, was backed by CEO Omar Berrada last month, expressing confidence in his coaching abilities.

The situation at Manchester United has been turbulent following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a 27.7% stake in the club, leading to an overhaul of the board and a hectic transfer window during the summer. Optimism around the start of the season has quickly waned, with United securing only three wins out of nine matches across all competitions. In the league, they have accumulated merely seven points from six games, marking one of their worst starts to a Premier League season.

Recent statistics paint a challenging picture for Ten Hag. Notably, Tottenham’s impressive xG (expected goals) of 4.67 against United raised concerns about the club’s defensive capabilities, an area that saw significant deficiencies last season as well. Ten Hag’s side has managed to keep three clean sheets, but they have only scored five league goals, resulting in a negative goal difference of -3.

The focus now shifts to Ten Hag’s efforts in guiding Manchester United through what many perceive as a critical week. They are set to clash with Porto in the Europa League followed by a Premier League tie against an in-form Aston Villa team led by Unai Emery. These games precede the October international break, allowing a window for potential reassessment of the managerial situation.

Despite internal pressures and external critiques, the club appears reluctant to make hasty decisions regarding managerial changes. Factors such as Erik ten Hag’s new supporting staff, including Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake, and the shifting dynamics under new ownership play into the strategic patience displayed by United’s top brass.

INEOS, under Ratcliffe’s direction, emphasizes the need for an environment conducive to success, expressing a broader view of challenges beyond any single manager. Notably, Ratcliffe, who is heavily invested in reshaping United’s football culture, remained non-committal about Ten Hag’s role following recent defeats but has given no indication of imminent changes. Similarly, Berrada and Dan Ashworth, the sporting director, also backed Ten Hag despite the mounting pressure.