Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag showed up at the club’s Carrington training facility early on Monday morning, determined to leave behind the disappointment of the previous weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham.
The Dutch coach currently tops the list of betting odds for the next Premier League manager to depart, having secured only seven points in the team’s opening six matches.
Ten Hag appeared troubled as he was photographed driving into Carrington in the early hours of the morning.
When questioned about his future after the loss at Old Trafford, he stated: ‘No, I am not thinking about this.’
‘We all made this decision together, as an ownership and leadership group, during the summer. Additionally, we agreed on a clear review of what we need to improve and how we envision building the squad.’
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag arrived for work in the early hours on Monday.
Ten Hag was seen entering United’s Carrington training ground before daylight.
The Dutchman has significant challenges ahead after a lackluster start to the season.
‘We are all unified, be it ownership, staff, or players. I have no such concerns.’
Ten Hag narrowly avoided losing his position at the end of last season after overseeing United’s lowest-ever finish in the Premier League (eighth), although he did manage to secure the FA Cup.
United’s ownership, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, considered various managerial candidates before concluding in July to maintain Ten Hag, extending his contract until June 2026.
This summer, Ten Hag was also supported in the transfer market, with the arrivals of Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Manuel Ugarte.
Four of these new signings were on the pitch against Spurs, with only Yoro absent due to a pre-season foot injury.
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Ten Hag at Old Trafford on Sunday following the team’s defeat to Tottenham.
Alejandro Garnacho and Matthijs de Ligt were seen applauding the fans after the match.
Dominic Solanke scored Tottenham’s third goal of the match.
However, United struggled significantly against Tottenham, who had already been dominating the game by the time Bruno Fernandes received a controversial red card for a challenge on James Maddison in the 42nd minute.
Following Fernandes’s dismissal, Spurs continued to control the match, with Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke adding to the scoreline alongside Brennan Johnson.
Former Spurs and Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp remarked: ‘When your club is actively seeking another manager, your position becomes intensely precarious because the players are aware that you’re not the right person. You’re unlikely to retain a manager who is being replaced.’
‘The team seems lost. The players they have signed don’t seem to fit. This club is renowned for its attacking style, yet too many players appear not to exert the necessary effort. This club was built on that ethos.’
‘I can’t see how he will keep his position with these performances. It’s hard to envision a turnaround. He secured two trophies last year, but I’m unclear who else could take them forward.’
‘They’ve scored five goals in six matches. This is a cauldron for great players. Anyone who arrives here descends into decline. Every player looks devoid of confidence and belief.’
Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski also scored for Spurs at Old Trafford.
Two of Tottenham’s goals were scored after United’s captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off.
Jamie Redknapp commented that Old Trafford feels like a graveyard for great players.
Sky pundit Gary Neville, a United legend, also criticized Ten Hag’s squad on Sunday.
During halftime, Neville described United’s performance as an ‘absolute disgrace’.
‘That was probably one of the worst halves I have seen under Ten Hag, and that’s saying something,’ he said.
‘[Ten Hag] can’t believe what he is witnessing. I can’t either; it’s terrible. It’s genuinely poor.’
‘I’m not focused on just the goals; I’m talking about the fundamentals. They appear completely shattered, all of them.’
Neville added: ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if there were better teams in Sunday league football this morning compared to what we witnessed from United this first half. It’s akin to pub football.’
Gary Neville insisted that United’s first-half showing was one of the worst of Ten Hag’s tenure.
Neville further commented at the end of the match, ‘Kudos to Tottenham. They were impressive, displaying quality football from the outset.’
‘For United, the primary takeaway from today is that in the first half, they delivered the most disappointing performance imaginable.
‘It was an utterly unacceptable display in terms of effort, quality – everything you would seek in a football team. There will be significant questions aimed at both the manager and the squad.’
United now faces two challenging away fixtures – first against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by a trip to Aston Villa in the Premier League next weekend.
