Erik ten Hag 'still has full backing of Manchester United board'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 30 October 2023

Erik ten Hag 'still has full backing of Man United board'

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reportedly retains the full backing of the board despite the Red Devils' dismal start to the 2023-24 campaign.

Erik ten Hag reportedly still has the full backing of the Manchester United board despite the Red Devils' dire start to the campaign.

The Dutchman was one of the hottest properties on the managerial market during his time at Ajax, whom he led to the semi-finals of the 2018-19 Champions League.

Players such as Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt honed their craft under Ten Hag before sealing big-money moves away from the club, and the 53-year-old was hired by Man United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's permanent successor last summer.

Within his first year as head coach, Ten Hag ended Man United's five-season trophy drought in the EFL Cup, as well as guiding the Red Devils to a third placed finish in the Premier League.

However, Man United have been a shadow of their former selves in the 2023-24 campaign, already suffering seven defeats across all competitions, including five in the top flight and two in the Champions League.

Manchester United's Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen react after Manchester City's Erling Braut Haaland scores their second goal on October 29, 2023 © Reuters

Ten Hag's side had enjoyed a brief revival with victories over Brentford, Sheffield United and Copenhagen before Sunday's Manchester derby, but they were torn to shreds by Manchester City, who eased to a 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

Erling Haaland netted a brace before Phil Foden completed the rout, subjecting a toothless Man United to five defeats from their opening 10 top-flight matches for the first time since the 1986-87 season, when Ron Atkinson was at the helm before Sir Alex Ferguson took over.

Man United finished 11th in the league that year, and Ten Hag's men occupy eighth place in the Premier League table with a mediocre 15-point tally, 11 behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur and eight adrift of the Champions League places.

The Red Devils' abysmal derby display and questionable choices of personnel from Ten Hag - who was booed when he took off Rasmus Hojlund on Sunday - has increased the pressure on the Dutchman, but according to the Manchester Evening News, the Man United hierarchy still have complete faith in him.

Despite their indifferent start to the campaign, Man United chief executive Richard Arnold reportedly still believes that the club are heading in the right direction after they posted record revenues of £648.2m for the latest financial year.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag pictured on September 26, 2023 © Reuters

Ten Hag's contract with the 20-time English champions runs until the summer of 2025, and the Red Devils are also understood to possess the option to extend his stay for another 12 months.

Since swapping Amsterdam for the Premier League, Ten Hag has led Man United to 49 wins from 76 games at the helm, in addition to overseeing 19 defeats and nine draws.

The Red Devils' predicament has not been helped by prolonged uncertainty surrounding the club's ownership situation, as it is nearly a year since the Glazers announced that they would be open to a sale.

The drawn-out saga appears to be coming to a close, though, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to purchase a 25% stake in the club for around £1.4bn before the end of the calendar year.

Man United continue the defence of their EFL Cup title against last year's runners-up Newcastle United in the fourth round on Wednesday evening, after which they head to Fulham for Saturday's early Premier League kickoff.