Erik ten Hag has expressed that Manchester United’s leadership should have already informed him if they are considering relieving him of his duties as manager. The Dutch coach made this statement following the club’s ongoing poor form, which was further highlighted by their goalless draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
With this result, United extended their winless streak to five games and currently sit 14th in the Premier League standings, having earned just seven points from seven matches—their worst start to a Premier League season.
Several key figures from Manchester United’s leadership were in attendance at Villa Park, including co-chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada, sports director Dan Ashworth, technical director Jason Wilcox, and football board member Sir Dave Brailsford.
However, Ratcliffe chose not to offer any public backing for Ten Hag in the wake of the match, leaving speculation about the manager’s future unresolved. Ten Hag, who intends to hold discussions with the club’s hierarchy soon, voiced his desire for clarity on his position within the club.
When asked about his job security, Ten Hag responded, “I don’t have any idea what has changed because they should have already told me. We communicate openly and transparently.” He emphasized that he has regular conversations with the club’s leadership and would expect to be informed if his job were in jeopardy.
He added, “I communicate with them on a continuous basis, and right after the game, I have to perform my job, interact with the players, manage the players, and answer your queries. We always chat. Every week, I would say every day we communicate, so I anticipate speaking with them.”
Ten Hag also addressed the ongoing speculation and media scrutiny surrounding his position, dismissing it as “external noise.” He acknowledged that internally, both he and the team are dissatisfied with their current performances, particularly their inability to find the back of the net in recent games. “Internally, we are unhappy; we know we need to do better, particularly in terms of scoring; this is the situation following a string of games in which we have fallen short.”
Despite the poor results, Ten Hag remains committed to focusing on his job and leading the players through this difficult period. He stressed that his priority is to manage the team and improve their performance on the pitch, even as questions about his future swirl around him. As Manchester United’s leadership continues to assess the situation, Ten Hag is keen to maintain open communication with the club’s decision-makers in the hope of finding a way forward.
The uncertainty surrounding Ten Hag’s future at Manchester United mirrors the club’s struggles on the field, and while no official decision has been made regarding his position, the pressure on the Dutchman continues to mount as United search for a way to turn their season around. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see whether the leadership decides to back Ten Hag or make a managerial change in the coming weeks.
