Former Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans confessed that the mounting pressure on Erik ten Hag is having an impact on the Manchester United players.
Evans produced a man of the match display to help United secure a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa in Birmingham on Sunday. Part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe watched on from the stands at Villa Park.
Ten Hag’s position is under scrutiny following a string of dreadful results that includes home losses to Liverpool and Tottenham.
Evans told Sky Sports: “You see the fans at the end, the support they give the team. They have supported the players massively over the years.
“It was great for him (Erik ten Hag) to see that. The other night (following the 3-3 draw with Porto) he got a bit emotional, you could see it on him, letting that game slip away. You could see everyone was running into the ground to get a half decent result.”
He added: “It does affect the players. It’s on our minds too. I think the more experience I’ve got in my career I’ve made sure I do everything you do to be ready and give everything I can to the team.”
Reflecting on his own performance, the man that retired from international football in September said: “I still feel like I’m playing the game I always have, I still feel like I have speed in the legs to get me out of the bad moments.
“[Erik ten Hag] told me after the game the other night I’d play in this one. Even the match against Porto I wasn’t expecting to come on. It’s unlikely to have a double centre-back substitution. Every match I play now I just enjoy it. It’s still a privilege to play for this club. The pressures that come with it, it’s part of it.”