Far from expecting him to be sacked, the Manchester United dressing room backs manager Erik ten Hag to turn around a dismal start to the season, according to a bombshell new report.
The Daily Mail, via Sky Sports, claimed this morning that the United squad expect their manager to be dismissed.
But Telegraph Sport directly challenge that view, reporting that Ten Hag can count on support where it matters most, with “senior players” believing that he can weather the storm and save his job.
The newspaper says that “while players are unhappy at their downturn in form […] Ten Hag has backing within the team to turn things around.”
Either way, the writing seems to be on the wall for the Dutchman after his side slid to a limp 3-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.
The despondent performance gave little evidence of belief in the manager, with the players acting like a band soon to be without its leader.
But Ten Hag will be praying that Telegraph Sport are on the money, as he desperately needs his players to turn their reported faith into hard graft and goals in their upcoming matches.
A defining aspect of Ten Hag’s squad is the number of players he has brought to Old Trafford after managing elsewhere, with vast amounts of money spent on the likes of Andre Onana, Antony and Matthijs de Ligt.
And if there’s ever a time for them to repay their manager’s loyalty it’s now, with a sacking expected during the international break should the next two games not produce something special.
United travel to Porto on Thursday night to try and get their Europa League campaign back on track after kicking it off with a 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente.
The Portuguese side also had a disappointing start to the competition, losing 3-2 to Bodø/Glimt, but unlike United rallied to a storming league victory the following weekend, beating FC Arouca 4-0.
Ten Hag then takes his side to Birmingham for a Premier League clash with Aston Villa in what many believe could be his final game in charge should the result not go his way.
Telegraph Sport report that “United sources accept that during slumps of form not every player will be happy, although a run of wins can lift the club from 13th in the Premier League and change the complexion of the season.”
Should there be no run of wins it’s surely a matter of time before Ten Hag is sacked, and United are linked with plenty of potential replacements including Gareth Southgate, Simone Inzaghi and Graham Potter.
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