Erik ten Hag future: Manchester United boss hits back at critics over 'lies and fairytales' about his future
Erik ten Hag has overseen Man Utd's worst start to a Premier League season after doubts about his role this summer; but at his press conference on Friday, he said: "I know we are all on one page at this club. Internally at the club it's quiet"
Saturday 19 October 2024 10:21, UK
Erik ten Hag has hit back over the speculation surrounding his job as Manchester United boss, implying his critics are creating "lies and fairytales".
United have won just two of their first seven league games, and sit 14th in the Premier League table, closer to the relegation zone than fourth.
There were suggestions that Ten Hag's future was one of many topics up for discussion during a meeting involving Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Joel Glazer and United's leadership group, but Ten Hag remains in the job for Saturday's Premier League clash with Brentford and insists everyone at the club is on "one page".
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"No," Ten Hag replied when asked if he had received assurances over his future at his press conference on Friday.
"The noises came from the media, some of you, not all of you. Some of you are coming up with stories, creating stories, creating fairytales, bringing a noise, bringing lies.
"I know we are all on one page at this club. I've said this before the break to some journalists who probably didn't believe me as I saw the reports. Internally at the club it's quiet.
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"Of course we are discussing the position we are in and we're unhappy with that. We have to turn the corner and that's the strategy to turn this corner. We are quiet and composed, stick to the plan and are convinced we will turn the corner.
"We face challenges in football, sometimes it goes up or down. I'm sure we will make this a success as we did the last two seasons.
Ten Hag: I see good patterns and stats
Ten Hag appeared to give himself some breathing room after his team produced an impressive defensive display in a goalless draw at Aston Villa before the international break. However, they remained very toothless in attack - a story of their season so far.
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United have failed to score in six of their last 11 Premier League games, including in four of the last five league outings. They are also severely underperforming their XG, they are worst in the league for it.
Ten Hag isn't concerned about the lack of goals, saying: "Underneath I see good things, good patterns and good stats - that confirms we are in a good direction but the ranking is not lying. We are where we are and that's not good enough.
"I think the players do well, we won last season. Maybe you forgot and when we face problems sometimes we have to line up teams that were not in the right balance because the players were not available.
"But, in general, the players do perform well and you see now we have to start scoring and that part is the most important part in football. If you want to win games you have to score goals. That part we have to improve.
"We are entering the final third, we are entering the box, we are coming in good positions to score but now we have to step up with the most important part is to net."
Ten Hag: Man Utd will need Sir Alex despite end to ambassador role
Ten Hag says Sir Alex Ferguson "is Manchester United" and believes he will remain available to help in their bid to return to the top, despite leaving his ambassadorial role.
"Of course it has an impact on us," Ten Hag said. "Sir Alex of course is Manchester United. He built Manchester United to where the club is now.
"It impacts us, but on the other side also we know and Sir Alex knows and he wants to see a winning Manchester United.
"I'm sure he's always available for every advice and we will need him, definitely in the short term again as we did in the last two and a half years I am here."
Asked if he regularly talks to Ferguson, the under-fire United boss said: "Yes, so now and then we have good contact I would say.
"So, once in half a year I meet formally with him, but also of course informal around games I meet him."
Ten Hag added: "At the moment we can't match the standards he set, but still we won trophies. Remember, six years before this club didn't win trophies so we are coming back, so we are returning, but it is also obvious that we are not there.
"But then what is very important, we need all the processes right and that we can construct a team, that we can line up the best players to construct the best teams."
Ten Hag continued: "One thing is sure that there's almost no club in the world where the expectations are so high as at Manchester United and that is set in the era of Sir Alex.
"Then the rest of us who come after have to deal with this, but that's nice. Therefore you want to be here, it is a big challenge.
"But also it demands the highest standards in every process and obviously we're not there in every process.
"We didn't get so far to challenge for the Premier League, for the Champions League title, but of course that is the ambition.
"That is what this club has and what the expectations are, but still we manage to win some trophies."
