Premier League

ERIK TEN HAG admits he is under pressure – despite a fresh vote of confidence from Manchester United’s top brass.The Dutch boss saved his job by winning the FA Cup in May and was given a new deal.Defiant Erik ten Hag says he has delivered success at Man UtdCredit: GettyBut defeat at Southampton today would mean United losing three Premier League games in a row for the first time since 2015.Asked about support from upstairs, Ten Hag said: “In football you have to win, you have to deliver, that’s clear. As I’ve said, I have delivered here.”It’s good the new leadership acknowledge this and says this, we are working together to be more successful.“We have higher targets than we’ve already achieved.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLUnited finished eighth last term and started this season with two defeats from their first three, including a 3-0 walloping by Liverpool two weeks ago.But new chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Dan Ashworth backed Ten Hag during the international break.Berrada said: “Do we still believe in Erik? Absolutely,“We think Erik is the right coach for us and we’re fully backing him.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSBut even the international break has not given Ten Hag a chance to get out the limelight.He has had a miserable week off, with Teddy Sheringham saying he will be axed by Christmas and Cristiano Ronaldo firing shots at him.Erik ten Hag warns Manuel Ugarte could take MONTHS to get fit in further blow to Man Utd fans after Liverpool hammeringNew signing Matthijs de Ligt was at fault for several goals conceded by Holland in their two games.And the club were unable to shift Antony amid late loan interest from Turkey.Meanwhile, Ten Hag insists United are in a transition period.New chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made big changes behind-the-scenes, while five new players have been brought during the summer.Ten Hag, 54, added: “It’s not only to do with me, nobody can deny in these last eight or nine months a lot has happened to this club.“A new leadership team, new structure and ownership structure. It’s a huge turnaround I would say.”Ten Hag is also dealing with huge injury problems, with Leny Yoro, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund out.But left-back Tyrell Malacia, 25, is back in training after missing all of last season with a knee injury.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe said: “We want to motivate him to return, but it’s not so easy when you are so long away.“He’s working very hard and making big steps.”Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten HagERIK 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 SouthgateEnjoys 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 McKennaTalks 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 ZerbiAllegedly 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 FrankBrentford 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 SilvaFulham 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 PochettinoFell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.Thomas TuchelMade 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 AmorimSporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.Roberto MartinezPortugal manager was considered in the early stages. More

CASEMIRO has one of the most impressive CVs in world football — but it will count for nothing as he tries to prove himself all over again at Manchester United.Maybe he knows it too. That could be why the veteran Brazilian was the first player to report for training at Carrington in recent days.Casemiro arrived first at Carrington in a bid to turn his form aroundCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeHe was hooked at half-time after a disastrous display against LiverpoolCredit: PAErik ten Hag has backed him to respondCredit: AFPThe five-time Champions League winner had a nightmare in his last appearance for the Red Devils two weeks ago.He was blamed for Liverpool’s first two goals and then hooked at half-time as United lost 3-0 on a disastrous showing against their bitter rivals at Old Trafford.Now he has even more competition with new £50.8million signing Manuel Ugarte — as well as rookie Toby Collyer — pushing for his place in Erik ten Hag’s team.So he may have to get his head down and be patient.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDuring the international break the 32-year-old was linked with a move to Galatasaray but a firm offer never materialised, now he and United are stuck with each other.Ten Hag has spoken with Casemiro about his horror show against Arne Slot’s men and says he will pick the team from what he sees in training from now on.The United boss said: “I normally do talk to them and in this case I did as well. But players in our club know when you are playing at this level there is always competition.“They also know you can only be successful if you have a squad with cover.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“You can’t have a squad where you only have one player who can cover — you need at least two for each position.“Sometimes it is three for two. That is OK when you have very robust players. All the players will understand — then it’s about what is the best fit for the team.’Man Utd have wrong bald Dutch manager’ – how Slot schooled Ten Hag at Old Trafford“They have to prove it, the key word. They will have games but they have to take responsibility and win games for the club.“If they show their levels on the training pitch, show levels and they’ll have playing time and then it’s about contributing to the team.“I am looking far ahead. A player who benefits most will play more minutes. That is also normal.”While Ten Hag and the new football leadership team have high hopes for Ugarte — after the Uruguayan’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain — they still need Casemiro to get back on track.With Europa League commitments starting this month, it will be a hectic period for the Red Devils.And the Dutch boss does not want the experienced star to be judged too harshly on his shocker against Liverpool.He added: “We definitely need him for sure, of course I speak with him about the situation, everyone can have a bad day at the office.“But it’s normal in life you have highs and lows and it’s the same in the life of a football player.“For a football player there are many observing this and have an opinion on this and you have to deal with this.“He knows how to deal with it. Nobody’s career goes only up, no team pattern only goes up. Then you have to deal with it — then it is about what is the end result.“But he is experienced. It’s not the first time I guess he’s had to deal with a bad game, he has to overcome it this well.”Ugarte, 23, only arrived back from international duty on Thursday lunchtime but is in contention to play at Southampton.Ten Hag revealed he has followed the South American since he featured for Sporting Lisbon against his Ajax team in the Champions League group stage three years ago.The Amsterdam outfit ran out comfortable winners in both matches but the way the midfielder performed stuck in his memory.Manuel Ugarte the next Roy KeaneBy PHIL THOMASNEARLY two decades have passed since Roy Keane led Manchester United into battle for the final time.It left a gap in the engine room that the Red Devils have never really come close to filling in the 19 years that have followed.Many tried and some managed it in flashes and, although the trophies still rolled in for a time, there was no snarling, bring-it-on warrior prowling the midfield.Until now… until the imminent capture of a man who views a 50-50 challenge like a starving Labrador staring at a side of ham.For three months, United have licked their own lips at the prospect of a midfield marshalled by Uruguayan tough guy Manuel Ugarte.Finally, they have their man.Ugarte is pretty much a ball-winner pure and simple.Rarely will you see him pinging 40-yard passes to split a defence.But ending his days with half the reputation of Keane and a fraction of his silverware would still mean a hell of a career.Ten Hag added: “He’s been on my radar a long time, he played for Sporting Lisbon vs Ajax.“It was not only that match, also the seasons after when he played there and for Uruguay and PSG.“I had him in my mind and my eye, the scouting department had him in their mind and we followed him and we judged he will be a really good fit for our team.“He’s coming in as a late transfer but he’s playing a very important position, connecting the defending with attacking and attacking with defending.“Communication is very important to guide the team and lead the team, make the connections between defence and attack.“We have to help and guide him about how to play that role but what we have seen, he knows a lot already and has the profile where we think he can fit in that role.“We have to teach him details about how it works in our team.”Ten Hag is also backing summer arrival Matthijs de Ligt to bounce back from his Dutch disaster.De Ligt, signed in a £42.7m deal from Bayern Munich, had a nightmare international break.The 25-year-old was at fault for a goal in Holland’s 5-2 win over Bosnia then got blamed for both in a 2-2 draw with Germany days later.READ MORE SUN STORIESTen Hag said: “I know Matthijs and he is a great personality, his character. He will overcome this and will bounce back.“I’m not afraid for this situation — it’s about the Dutch squad — not his club. I know his qualities, I know he’ll fight back.” More