Man Utd dressing room ‘worrying’ about Erik ten Hag after Sir Jim Ratcliffe meetings | Football | Sport
Manchester United players are reportedly concerned that Erik ten Hag has already accepted that he faces the sack at the end of his second season as manager. There is said to be a belief that the Dutchman looks resigned to his fate as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS weigh up whether to start the club’s new era on a blank canvas.
Ten Hag has unsurprisingly faced intense scrutiny throughout an underwhelming campaign that has failed to build on his successful start to life at Old Trafford.
No United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson has survived the axe after failing to qualify for the Champions League or being projected to miss out.
The Red Devils are 11 points behind fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in fifth with just seven games remaining.
Ten Hag qualified for Europe’s premier competition with a third-place finish last season but oversaw just one win in this term’s group stage as United finished rock bottom of Group A.
And while there is a chance to reach a second successive FA Cup final against Coventry City at Wembley next weekend, concerns are reportedly rife among his squad.
According to The Sun, United players worry that Ten Hag has resigned himself to the sack ahead of INEOS’ first full season at the helm this summer.
Watch all the Premier League and Champions League drama unfold on TNT Sports
Ratcliffe didn’t give him a clear public vote of confidence after securing his 27.7 per cent stake in the club in February, which transferred total control over football operations to INEOS.
And it’s claimed that there has been a shift in the Dutchman’s mood ever since, indicating he understands his hopes of seeing out his three-year contract are bleak.
The report adds that former Chelsea manager Graham Potter is in the frame to replace Ten Hag in the hot seat after previously meeting Ratcliffe.
Potter snubbed the chance to take charge of Ajax earlier this month, suggesting he is patiently waiting for a more attractive vacancy to open.
Despite the reported fears within the walls of Old Trafford, Ten Hag has taken a bullish stance when publicly discussing his status next season.
“I don’t have any doubts. I’m just focusing on my job, focusing on this process, in this project. I really love to be here, I’m enjoying it. For me it’s a challenge,” Ten Hag told Sky Sports.
“It will not go always in the right way, it’s not going always the results in the way we wanted but I’m sure we’re in the right direction and we will get where we want to be.”
United must stop the rot at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, having won just one of their last six Premier League games.
