Last week it was the media, this week it was the pundits who have been critical of his team. Erik ten Hag certainly isn't going down without a fight at Manchester United.
The under-pressure Dutchman is also using United's history to try and fight his corner and prove to Ineos he is the right man for the job heading into next season. Having referenced the club's FA Cup final record on a couple of occasions last week, he discussed Sir Alex Ferguson's rebuilding jobs after Saturday's uninspiring draw with Burnley.
Within Ten Hag's latest history lesson was a reminder to those United greats now filling the TV studios and commentary boxes that life at Old Trafford wasn't always a bed of roses for them either. When asked whether it was unfair to judge his current side against some of Ferguson's teams because of the age profile, Ten Hag reminded the likes of Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes that they had to go through rebuilds as well.
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"People forget that the Man United team of 2004-05, they also didn't play that great football. They were building and it took time but everyone forgets, even the players who were in the team," said Ten Hag.
That season certainly wasn't Ferguson's best, although it did include a third-place finish in the league - for the second season in a row - as well as a place in the final of the FA Cup and semi-final of the Carabao Cup.
That was a fall from the standards he had set, however, while he gradually built the side that would go on to win three Premier League titles in a row between 2007 and 2009, as well as claiming another Champions League.
Ferguson had the CV to convince people he was on the right track and while Ten Hag has credit for winning United's first trophy in six years in his first season at the club, the decline has been so rapid this season that faith can now only be placed on his word.
He was calling for patience on Saturday after yet another disappointing result this season and he is right to point out the potential in the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund. All three can reach greater heights but the question is whether Ten Hag is the right man to get them there.
Garnacho has enjoyed a good season but needs a coaching staff that can help improve his finishing and his decision-making in the final third. Hojlund is as raw now as he was when he signed for the club for £72million in the summer.
"We have some very young players and that’s why we build this club back. That takes time," said Ten Hag on Saturday.
"We bring in young players, Garnacho, Hojlund, Mainoo, they are all in the first season in the Premier League and it’s getting more intense year by year. Those players have to adjust and that takes time.
"I’m very impatient but we need patience and fans need patience, we’re building a team here and we need the experience."
The real question now is whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe shares Ten Hag's levels of patience. What isn't in doubt is that the former Ajax manager won't be going without picking a scrap or two.
