Erik ten Hag is battling to save his job as Manchester United manager (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United are keen to ‘persevere’ with Erik ten Hag despite pressure mounting on the club’s beleaguered manager.
The Dutchman cut a disconsolate figure as he trudged towards the Old Trafford tunnel last night following another insipid display.
United had been hoping to bounce back from Sunday’s Manchester derby drubbing but instead turned in an even more disappointing display which yielded a 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat against a second string Newcastle outfit.
According to the Independent, however, there are no plans to make a swift decision to oust a manager who has presided over the worst start to a top flight campaign since 1986/87.
While reports of a fractured dressing room are said to be concerning, there is an acceptance that the problems run deeper than the main man at the helm.
The impending change to ownership structure where Sir Jim Ratcliffe is primed to take a 25% stake in the club could also play a part in a stay of execution for Ten Hag.
Ten Hag insists United need to ‘stand up’ and work ‘shoulder by shoulder’ to turn around a season that is threatening to go into a tailspin.
‘This is not good enough and we know that,’ Ten Hag said after Miguel Almiron, Lewis Hall and Joe Willock struck for Eddie Howe’s Magpies. ‘We were in the game and then in a couple of minutes we are giving the game away.
The Dutchman has overseen a chaotic start to the season (Picture: Getty)
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‘That’s below our standards and we know that all and we have to take responsibility for this.’
United’s performances have been as much a concern as the results, leading pressure to mount on Ten Hag just 17 months after starting in the post.
Bookmakers’ odds on him leaving have been slashed, but the defiant Dutchman said he was a ‘fighter’ as United prepare for three key games before November’s international break.
Premier League matches away to Fulham and home to Luton bookend next Wednesday’s trip to Copenhagen as they attempt to keep their Champions League campaign alive.
MORE : Paul Merson urges Manchester United to consider sacking Erik ten Hag
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