Erik ten Hag is still having to deal with questions over his future at press conference. It must be infuriating – to be asked about the same topic weekly, and having to use the same responses to bat away criticism.
It’s like that for every Manchester United manager. You get criticised heavily when the results aren’t good enough.
Ten Hag suggested it would be in everyone’s interest for new co-oner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to provide clarity on his position.
The INEOS group that is now leading football operations at Old Trafford has declined to offer public assurances that Ten Hag will remain in charge of United beyond the end of the season. It looks like we won’t know for certain until after the FA Cup final against Man City.
Ten Hag’s future may depend on that fixture at Wembley. City go into the game as clear favourites, which doesn’t bode well if that is the case for the Dutchman, who will feel he has unfinished business at United.
United have suffered 13 Premier League defeats this season, with the latest coming against Crystal Palace on Monday night.
The Reds currently sit eighth in the Premier League and run the risk of missing out on qualification to European competition next season.
“This question: you have to make to the owners, not to me,” Ten Hag said regarding uncertainty surrounding his future, as per the Manchester Evening News.
“Once again, you have to make this question – it is your opinion – and you have to make this question to them, not to me.
“That’s my job (to speak at press conference). I take responsibility for that to speak to you. That is why I am the manager – to give the answers.
“I don’t care if they do or they don’t, I’m working on improving and developing my team, that is my job here.”
It is worth remembering that United’s previous Dutch manager, Louis van Gaal, was sacked after winning the FA Cup in 2016. There is a chance history could repeat itself but Ten Hag will hope not.
Ten Hag highlighted United’s injury issues once again and the numner of different back fours he has had to select this season.
“No,” Ten Hag replied when asked if he was worried. “I think they have common sense. They see when you have 32 different backlines, when you lose eight centre backs, when they see we use 13 different partnerships at centre half, when we don’t have a left full back, when we have so many injuries – they know that will have a negative impact on results.
“But still we are fighting and it’s a huge FA Cup final. We are very happy to be there, it can still be a highlight for this season. Of course, we are not happy but we know the reasons why we are underperforming in the ranking now and that of course is the injuries.
“I am a realistic person, I see this when I analyse and no team will perform when you have so many injuries in key areas.”
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