Manchester United players reportedly think Erik ten Hag is on ‘borrowed time’ at Old Trafford in the wake of the club’s nightmare 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday.
The Red Devils decided to keep the Dutchman back in the summer, despite sounding out potential replacements.
Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Thomas Frank, Marco Silva and Roberto Martinez were among the names considered, with Ten Hag eventually keeping his job after steering the fallen giants to FA Cup glory back in May.
United have, however, endured a nightmare start to the season so far.
Man Utd players reportedly think Erik ten Hag is on ‘borrowed time’ at Old Trafford in the wake of the club’s nightmare 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday
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They have picked up just seven points in the Premier League, despite bolstering the squad during the summer transfer window.
And United were poor as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday following goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke.
The Red Devils insist they’re behind Ten Hag for the time being as crunch clashes against the likes of Porto and Aston Villa loom.
Yet the Daily Mail say United players think the 54-year-old is on ‘borrowed time’.
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It’s claimed that Ten Hag retains the backing of the squad, despite the poor results.
But United players do think it’s a case of when, not if, he’s relieved of his duties.
The report says squad members think the damage was done back in the summer when the club’s hierarchy started sounding out potential replacements.
After United finished eighth, many expected Ten Hag to be chopped.
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But the club’s 2-1 FA Cup final win over Manchester City changed things, with the board opting to keep faith with Ten Hag.
He was even given a contract extension, with his current deal due to expire in 2026.
As things stand, there’s no clear frontrunner to take over from the Dutchman despite links to Tuchel and Potter resurfacing.
And whether Ten Hag can turn the situation around remains to be seen.
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Man Utd were awful as they lost 3-0 to Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday
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Speaking after the defeat to Tottenham, meanwhile, Ten Hag insisted he wasn’t worried about being axed – despite the pressure mounting.
“I am not thinking about this,” he said.
“We all made in the summer the decision to stay together, as an ownership, a leadership group.
“Also we made the decision from a clear review what we have to improve and how we want to construct a squad. But we knew it will take some time, how the window went, some players late in like [Manuel] Ugarte.
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag seems to be a dead man walking following his side’s defeat to Tottenham on Sunday
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“Also we have to make some improvement in [the overarching] organisation, we still have some injuries, we need some time.
“We are all on one page or in one boat together, the ownership, the staff and the players as well. I don’t have that concern.”