Erik ten Hag will remain in charge of Manchester United for this week’s away double-header against FC Porto and Aston Villa, according to reports. The Dutchman is under record-high pressure after Sunday’s abysmal evening against Tottenham at Old Trafford but, for now, retains INEOS’ backing.
United’s second successive 3-0 defeat at home in the Premier League – following Liverpool’s rout of Ten Hag’s team on September 1 – intensified the scrutiny on Ten Hag to new levels.
It came days after an uninspiring 1-1 Europa League draw with FC Twente, also at Old Trafford, and their league loss left the Red Devils 12th, closer to rock bottom than the summit.
Ten Hag faces a pair of daunting away tests before the October international break, which could prove decisive for his future.
Porto represents United’s toughest fixture on paper in the League Phase of the Europa League, while visits to Villa Park are seldom comfortable.
Two more below-par results would leave Ten Hag’s side with just six wins in 21 Premier League games and one in their last 10 European outings.
But, according to the Telegraph, United currently remain focused on supporting the 54-year-old in his attempts to overturn the club’s recent fortunes.
Ten Hag is expected to be in the dugout for Thursday’s trip to the Estadio do Dragao and in the West Midlands on Sunday.
The report adds that United’s slow start to the season after splashing a further £200million on new signings in the summer has caused dismay within the walls of Old Trafford.
However, there are said to be no immediate plans to sack Ten Hag, who insisted after the Spurs humiliation that he was on the same page as his bosses.
He said: “No, I am not thinking about this [getting sacked]. We all made this decision to stay together, as an ownership, as a leadership group in the summer.
“Also, we made the decision from a clear review [of] what we have to improve as an organisation and how we want to construct a squad.
“But we knew it will take some time because of how the [summer transfer] window went, some players late in like [Manuel] Ugarte.
“Also, we have to make some improvement in organisation. We still have some injuries; we need some time.
“We are all on one page or in one boat together – the ownership, the leadership group, the staff and the players as well. I don’t have that concern.”
Despite his maintained backing, Ten Hag will understand that a damaging descent into further crisis by this time next week could leave INEOS with little choice.
