ERIK TEN HAG says rumours of his imminent sacking are “fairytales”.
But he admits that Manchester United simply are not good enough right now.
Ten Hag’s job is hanging by a thread after their worst ever start to a Premier League season sees them in 14th place going into this weekend’s home game against Brentford.
Still, the Dutchman feels rock solid in his position at Old Trafford, even if others are finding that difficult to believe.
Ten Hag said: “The only noise is only coming from the media. Bringing up stories, creating stories, making fairytales. We are all on one page this club.
“I said that before the break, and several journalists they didn’t believe me, I see the reports but internal in the club it’s quiet.”
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However, he knows things have to improve starting with the visit of Thomas Frank and his team, another manager linked to the Old Trafford hot seat.
Ten Hag said: “Of course, we are unhappy in the position where we are and we have to turn the corner with a strategy to turn this corner but ultimately we are quiet, we are composed, we stay where we are, we stick to the plan and we are convinced we will make it a success.
“Also we have to climb a mountain, that’s top football and sometimes you have to face challenges, sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down I am sure we will make it a success like we did the last two seasons.
“We are in a direction, underneath I see good patterns, good steps that confirm we are in a direction but the ranking is not lying, it is not good enough.”
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Thomas Tuchel was another manager tipped to take over from Ten Hag and was even spoken to by the club over the summer as they sought out a new boss only to stay with the man they had.
Now he has become England manager and Ten Hag believes it is a good choice.
He said: “I think it’s a very good choice from the FA. He is a top class manager who has proved himself, creating top teams, creating teams who win.
“England hasn’t won since 1966 so I think it’s a very good appointment to get a win because England has world-class players to make a team and they have the opportunity to win the Euros or the World Cup.”
United just need to win a few more games to take the heat off Ten Hag whether he thinks stories of his position being under pressure are fairytales or not.
The players look like they are feeling the pressure particularly in front of their own fans with a shocking performance in the 3-0 defeat against Tottenham last time out at Old Trafford.
He stabilised things with away draws against Porto and Aston Villa.
And Ten Hag said: “I think the players do well, we won a trophy last season, maybe you forgot and when we face problems sometimes we have to line up teams that were not in the right balance because the players were not available.
“In general, the players do perform well and we have to start scoring and that part is the most important part in football if you want to win games.
“That part we have to improve, we are entering the final third, the box, we are coming in good positions to score but now the most important part is to net.”
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United go into Saturday’s game without Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire who are out for a fortnight each injured.
There is good news on Noussair Mazraoui, however, who is available after a procedure on his heart.
Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten Hag
ERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.
Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.
Gareth Southgate
Enjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.
Kieran McKenna
Talks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.
Roberto De Zerbi
Allegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.
Thomas Frank
Brentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.
Marco Silva
Fulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.
Mauricio Pochettino
Fell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Thomas Tuchel
Made a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.
Ruben Amorim
Sporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.
Roberto Martinez
Portugal manager was considered in the early stages.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
