Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag is requesting additional time to turn the club’s fortunes around following another disappointing match.
United faced a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday, sparking speculation about Ten Hag’s future with the team.
This loss leaves United in 12th place in the Premier League, with only seven points from their first six games and a goal difference of minus three.
“I’m not focused on that,” Ten Hag responded when asked if club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his executives might consider a managerial change. “We all made the decision to stay united in the summer, both in ownership and leadership. We also agreed on a clear review of what we need to improve and how we want to build the squad. We understood it would take time, especially with how the transfer window played out and some players arriving late, like Manuel Ugarte.”
“We need to improve our organization and address the injuries, but we’re all in this together—ownership, staff, and players alike. I don’t have concerns in that area.”
Ten Hag expressed disappointment in the team’s performance during the first 30 minutes, stating it fell below the expectations for a Manchester United team. “Even after conceding early, you should remain calm, stick together, and adhere to the game plan to find a foothold, which we failed to do,” he noted.
“We appeared anxious on the ball after the opening goal, making too many mistakes. Our pressing in the first half was ineffective, leading to counter-attacks against us. We also made poor decisions when we had space, resulting in a rough start to the match.”
“Tottenham was dominant. We struggled to implement our press and made mistakes in possession, failing to identify the open man or pass effectively past their press.”
Additionally, United’s captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off three minutes before halftime for a late tackle on James Maddison. “The referee showed him a red card, and I have my opinion on that—I don’t believe it warranted a red,” said Ten Hag.
