Erik ten Hag accepts that if Manchester United’s poor results continue the backing offered by the club’s executive will fade, with the manager admitting: “You have to deliver.”
In their past two games United have lost 2-1 at Brighton and 3-0 to Liverpool. The chief executive, Omar Berrada, and sporting director, Dan Ashworth, supported Ten Hag when speaking before the Liverpool game. “We think Erik is the right coach for us and we’re fully backing him,” Berrada said.
It was put to Ten Hag that this stance may alter if results do not improve. He concurred, stating his contentment with high expectations and that they have a shared vision.
“In football you have to win, you have to deliver, that’s clear,” he said. “It’s good that the new leadership acknowledges this and says this. We are working together to be more successful – we have higher targets than we’ve already achieved.”
The Dutchman was asked about his stance that the club remain in transition despite this being his third season in charge. “It’s not only to do with me,” he said. “Nobody can deny in these last eight or nine months a lot has happened – new leadership team, structure, ownership structure, a new leadership.”
Ten Hag is under pressure to guide United to victory over Southampton in Saturday’s early match but he has no fear that Matthijs de Ligt’s poor form for the Netherlands is an issue. De Ligt, bought from Bayern Munich this summer for £38.6m, was taken off at half-time of the 2-2 draw with Germany on Tuesday.
The coach, Ronald Koeman, said this was to “protect” De Ligt after an erroneous pass allowed Deniz Undav’s equaliser and a fluffed clearance led to Joshua Kimmich giving Germany the lead. Three days before, De Ligt made mistakes in the 5-2 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ten Hag was asked about Koeman’s comment. “He said it in reference to the Dutch squad, not a club situation,” he said. “I know Matt and he’s a great personality. He will overcome this and will bounce back.
“This is definitely not his club situation. I’m not afraid of this situation. The other thing is he had a very difficult pre-season because he didn’t play games. The only game from the start was against Liverpool. So he starts for the Dutch squad and is not in rhythm or up to full speed but, when he is, you will see his qualities.”
In the 3-0 loss to Liverpool, Casemiro made two mistakes that led to goals but Ten Hag defended the holding midfielder. “I speak with him about the situation – everyone can have a bad day at the office,” he said.
Ten Hag has also discussed with the Brazilian the competition provided by Manuel Ugarte’s signing. “I did [as normal] but players in our club know when you are at this level there is always competition,” he said.
