Erik ten Hag has been urging Manchester United’s beleaguered players not to listen to the critics who have written them off as no-hopers.
Old Trafford insiders believe the Dutchman is trying to build a siege mentality ahead of the visit of Premier League title-chasers Liverpool in the aftermath of United’s dramatic injury-time surrender at Chelsea on Thursday night.
But his defiant messages have raised some eyebrows in the dressing room, with Ten Hag continuing to complain that there is nothing wrong with his methods and that he has been given no support from the new regime being put into place by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The United boss feels that there has also been no understanding of the injury crisis which has now seen him stripped of defensive trio Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Jonny Evans ahead of the clash with Jurgen Klopp’s rampant side.
Former Reds defender Gary Neville said he was stunned to see a top-flight team play so badly for 90 minutes when United threw away three points at Brentford last weekend after conceding another injury-time goal.
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Roy Keane and Rio Ferdinand have also been scathing of their old club this season. Ten Hag has been telling his players that the only way to shut them up is to stick together - and that they can still rescue United’s campaign.
Ten Hag is fighting for his future after a club record-equalling 12 Premier League defeats with eight games of the season left. United still have a negative goal difference after the 4-3 defeat at Stamford Bridge, yet are fighting for European qualification and will meet Championship side Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-finals later this month.
United were stunned by Chelsea on Thursday night (Getty Images)England boss Gareth Southgate is being linked as a potential successor to the Dutchman after the European Championship in the summer. Yet Ten Hag is confident that he will be given time to fix issues with his squad and that he deserves to be shown a degree of patience after qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Carabao Cup in his first season in charge.
He refuses to accept that he could already be a dead man walking after splashing £400million on players who have underwhelmed. Ten Hag feels Ratcliffe’s INEOS Group have been concentrating their efforts on building a new executive structure rather than looking at the problems that continue to plague United on the pitch.
INEOS have taken charge of football operations at Old Trafford following Ratcliffe’s £1.3billion deal with the Glazer family. And they have made it a priority to address issues with a recruitment structure which has seen United blow over £1billion in the transfer market over the last decade.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is bidding to return United to their heyday (PA)Omar Berrada has been recruited from rivals Manchester City to become the club’s new chief executive. And Dan Ashworth will be appointed technical director once United have agreed a compensation package with Newcastle.
But both men are currently on gardening leave and Ten Hag feels there has been no direction at the top of the club. Ratcliffe also has hopes of appointing former City academy boss Jason Wilcox to United’s recruitment team once a compensation deal with current club Southampton is agreed.
The vacuum means Ten Hag has been unable to outline his plans for the future.
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