Just five weeks ago, Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada publicly backed manager Erik ten Hag.
Throwing his weight behind the embattled Dutchman, he declared: “Erik has our full backing. We’re going to continue working very closely with him to help him get the best results.”
Those words were echoed by sporting director Dan Ashworth, who linked up with United this past summer, following his controversial exit from Newcastle United.
“I see my job is to support him [Ten Hag] in every way I possibly can,” Ashworth chimed in. “To allow him to fully focus on the training pitch and the tactical plan to deliver success for Manchester United.”
However, both those statements will be tested on Tuesday when United’s top brass, which includes Berrada, Ashworth, technical director Jason Wilcox, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford, meet to discuss Ten Hag’s future, alongside Joel Glazer, part of the majority ownership group, reports the Mirror.
Not long after Berrada and Ashworth’s public support of Ten Hag, United were thrashed 3-0 by arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford prior to the September international break. And since that humiliation, life at Old Trafford has been testing for Ten Hag and United, with a battering by Tottenham by the same scoreline following in their next home league game.
United currently sit 14th in the Premier League table having picked up eight points from seven games which is their worst ever start to a domestic campaign. To make matters worse for Ten Hag, their 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday last weekend actually saw United out do their previous worst start, which was just last season.
They have only managed to net five goals from seven games their lowest tally in 52 years and have drawn a blank in their last three league matches. They’ve played 11 matches this season, with victories only against Fulham, Southampton and Barnsley. While today’s meeting in Mayfair is a regular monthly event, one topic will dominate the discussion whether to stick with Ten Hag or not.
Following Sunday’s draw to Aston Villa, Ten Hag reiterated his belief that he and the United board share the same long-term vision and agreed when they started working together in the summer that there would be no immediate solution to the team’s issues.
But given the worrying decline this season, he has genuine reason to worry and will find out in the next 48 hours whether he still has the backing of his superiors, once they decide if they need a fresh voice and vision in the dressing room. If Ratcliffe’s recent public comments on Ten Hag are any indication of what the United board are thinking, then the 54-year-old may have to start looking for a new job.
Source: DailyStar
