Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is adamant his team can turn the tide around at Old Trafford despite the Red Devil’s poor start to the current campaign.
The Dutch coach is coming under pressure yet again, as his side sits 13th in the Premier League standings with seven points from six matches and the embarrassing 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday still leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of club faithfuls.
It, however, does not come any easy for the 54-year-old manager as crucial away games at Porto in the Europa League on Thursday and Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday beckons ahead of another international break.
🇵🇹 A trip to face FC Porto for the first time in over 15 years is up next.#MUFC || #UEL pic.twitter.com/pPCgWzFRG8
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 1, 2024
In an interview with British broadcaster, Sky Sports, Ten Hag said: “We are going to make a success from the season.”
“Nothing is easy, but this is nothing for me to panic about,” the former Ajax manager asserted added. “We can sort [the problems] out, this team can sort this out.”
It is believed the top hierarchy at United has given Ten Hag their backing despite the disappointing start to a campaign where they spent over £180 million in the summer transfer window.
However, there are reports suggesting that the next two games might make or mar the Dutchman’s future at Old Trafford.
When quizzed on those suggestions, he said: “I’m not thinking about it, I’m not anxious. We created a togetherness in the summer with the ownership and the leadership.
“We made this agreement, and we were all behind it. We know the strategy [is to bring in] young players in a transition period.
“They also know in May in all my last six seasons there were always trophies and that is what we are aiming for,” he concluded.
Ten Hag made a brilliant start to life as manager of the Red Devils as he ended United’s six year-trophy drought by winning the English League (EFL) Cup in his first season in charge as well as guiding the team back into the UEFA Champions League. He then followed it up with the FA Cup title win against local rivals Manchester City last season.
Despite winning two titles in first two years, the most of any manager in the division not called Pep Guardiola, he almost lost his job over the club’s poor league performances where they finished eighth – an all-time low in their Premier League history.
His fortune has not improved this season also as they have registered just two wins from six Premier League matches, raising concerns about his future.