Ten Hag Receives Support from Manchester United Despite Liverpool Defeat

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag retains the support of senior figures at Old Trafford, despite a challenging start to the season.

The Dutchman, who led the club to an FA Cup victory last season, faces scrutiny following a 3-0 home loss to Liverpool, which has left United in 14th place in the Premier League with just three points from their first three matches.

The defeat to Liverpool has raised concerns about United's early-season performance. A loss against Southampton after the international break on September 14 would mark their worst start since the 1986-87 season, when they accumulated only one point from their initial four games. That season, Ron Atkinson was dismissed and succeeded by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Despite these challenges, Ten Hag continues to have the backing of the new football structure established by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth, who joined the club recently, confirmed their support for Ten Hag, even though their involvement in the decision to retain him was limited.

Berrada stated, "It was a decision taken prior to both of our arrivals, but we are very happy with it." He emphasized, "Erik has our full backing. We think he is the right coach for us." Berrada also mentioned the collaborative efforts in the recent transfer window, highlighting their commitment to working closely with Ten Hag to achieve positive results.

Ashworth, who previously worked at Brighton and Newcastle, noted that it is common for sporting directors to join clubs with existing managers. He remarked, "Very rarely do you go into a job as a sporting director and there is no manager in place." Ashworth expressed his satisfaction with working alongside Ten Hag and emphasized his role in supporting the manager in various aspects, including recruitment and operational matters.

Ashworth's initial focus at United was on the transfer window, where he oversaw 32 transactions, including player signings, sales, and contract renewals. A significant move was Bruno Fernandes' new contract, which Ashworth deemed "a crucial part of the transfer strategy."

Although high-profile exits, such as Jadon Sancho's move to Chelsea, occurred after the transfer window closed, Ashworth believes the deals were beneficial for both the club and the players involved. He clarified, "We are not kicking players out of the club, but when they have a preference to move and it is right for them and us, you have to explore it, whether it's Jadon, Scott [McTominay] or Aaron [Wan-Bissaka]." Ashworth added that the depth in wide positions allowed for such decisions to be made.