Erik ten Hag may be managing Manchester United on borrowed time after what can only be described as a turbulent campaign thus far.
There’s no doubt that the Dutchman had credit in the bank following his maiden term in Manchester after he ended a six-year trophy drought, reached the FA Cup final and secured a third-placed finish.
However, when the Reds were out of the Champions League, out of the Carabao Cup and playing catch-up in the top-four race by Christmas in 2023/2024, it became evident that Ten Hag’s future was hanging in the balance.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.25 billion buy-in also opened up the prospect of the new co-owner opting to find his own man to take the reins at Old Trafford, with him making his desire clear from the get-go that he wanted to restore United to its former glories as quickly as possible.
Unless Ten Hag is able to go all the way in this season’s FA Cup campaign, in which they could face Manchester City in the final for a second consecutive year, you’d expect that speculation will continue to be rife until the summer.
Ten Hag unfazed by ongoing speculation
He isn’t letting the ongoing noise get in his head, though, as the manager told reporters in this week’s press conference (MUTV): “I don’t put energy into this – if I’m judged fairly or not.
“I know what we are doing here, why I’m here, to bring trophies, to also create economic value, so we are working on those and in a process, you have setbacks. I look at this and can see it realistically, so I see the nuance. Some comments miss that, but I can’t be bothered about it, can’t go into emotions.”
He added: “I don’t have any concern about what is said on the outside. What concerns me is that in 18 months, I have never had my favourite team on the pitch because the players are injured.
“[The] one time [I could pick my strongest XI] was against Manchester City last season in the home game. That is my truth. And others can have a different truth. But I can’t put energy in that.”
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