Manchester United have already identified who they want to replace Erik ten Hag should they decide to sack the Dutchman.
The club’s hierarchy have also insisted that Ten Hag has their backing for now – but have told him he has two games to save his job.
United were demolished 3-0 at Old Trafford by Tottenham on Sunday – and the scoreline should have been arguably bigger had Spurs taken their chances.
Club captain Bruno Fernandes was also sent off but the Red Devils looked alarmingly woeful throughout the contest – conceding within the opening minutes of either half to all but end the game.
Erik ten Hag has come under huge pressure this season
Reuters
It continues a shoddy start to the season for the Red Devils, who are 12th in the Premier League with a minus-three goal difference with seven points from a possible 18.
According to the BBC, Ten Hag will definitely be in charge for the next Premier League match against Aston Villa, as well as their upcoming Europa League tie against Porto on Thursday.
If United do not win either match, the pressure will continue to mount on Ten Hag, who only signed a contract extension in the summer.
And according to the Daily Star, Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi has been identified as the man to replace Ten Hag should they be forced into a decision.
However, United chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reluctant to axe the former Ajax coach and wants to allow him the chance to turn the season around.
It is also noted that sacking Ten Hag would cost the club £17.5million – whereas in the summer it would have been less than £10m.
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When asked if he was worried about his job in the wake of the 3-0 demolition by Spurs, Ten Hag replied: “I am not thinking about this.
“We all made the decision to stay together as ownership and a leadership group in the summer.
“We made the decision from after a clear review what we have to improve as an organisation and how we want to construct a squad.
“We knew it will take some time, because of how the [transfer] window went, some players late in like [Manuel] Ugarte, also we have to make some improvement in the organisation, we still have to deal with some injuries, also from some impact players.
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Man Utd have had a disastrous start to the season
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“I think we will get better there. We need some time.
“We are all on one page or in one boat together, the ownership, the leadership group, the staff and the players’ group as well. I don’t have that concern.”
While Ten Hag is defiant, it is United’s joint-worst start to a Premier League season after six games and they have failed to score in two consecutive games at Old Trafford in the league.
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Man Utd have given Erik ten Hag time to save his job
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The last time this happened was November 2021, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked.
The performance against Twente in their Europa League opener also was concerning and saw many fans turn on Ten Hag.
With Ineos now taking control of football operations over from the Glazers, this represents their first crisis since being in charge and they are insistent they will not be rushed into a knee-jerk reaction.