Erik ten Hag made it clear that he was not worried about being sacked after Manchester United’s chastening defeat at the hands of Tottenham. The Red Devils were taken to the cleaners at Old Trafford as they produced the worst display of their season so far.
The result prompted further questions about Ten Hag’s future after the second half of last season was dominated by rumours that he would be sacked. He ended up signing a new contract in the summer but it seems he is already facing another battle to save his job.
United have made a distinct lack of progress since the end of the previous campaign despite Ten Hag being heavily backed in the transfer window. Quizzed on his future after the defeat to Tottenham, he insisted that he was not thinking about the possibility of being sacked.
He also emphasised the importance of togetherness at all levels behind the scenes, saying: “I’m not thinking about being sacked. We made the decision to stay together in summer with a clear plan. Ownership, leadership, staff, players, we’re all in this together.”
United went behind after just three minutes, with Brennan Johnson giving Tottenham the lead with his fourth goal in as many games. It came after a blistering run from Micky van de Ven, who dribbled past four United players before firing a delivery across goal.
The hosts were reduced in numbers when Bruno Fernandes was given his marching orders for a clumsy challenge on James Maddison. After the break, it went from bad to worse for United with Dejan Kulusevski doubling Tottenham’s lead with a volley.
Dominic Solanke got in on the act in the closing stages, reacting quickest to stick out a leg and poke the ball over the line. It remains to be seen if the manner of United’s defeat will spell the end for Ten Hag or if he will be given another chance to show his mettle.
Speaking earlier this week, he said it was important to take criticism on board in his pursuit of success rather than bury his head in the sand.
“First of all, respect the criticism,” he said during Friday’s press conference. “You can have an opinion about football. When you are in the job you have to deal with this but I can’t take every criticism into account.
“I don’t read, of course, all the criticism. It’s not even possible. I don’t want even to know. I need to know some and some are very good advice. For me [the best advice] is to stay clinical and see where the team is, which areas we have to improve.
“Stay also methodical, that you guide the team in the right pathway and make sure you make the right steps to get the best out of the team.”
