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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Dutchman, who led United to FA Cup success last season, is now facing one of his toughest challenges as the club sits 14th in the Premier League. With around £200 million ($261m) spent on strengthening the squad, the expectation was for the team to improve and compete for top honours. However, after seven league matches, the Red Devils find themselves in the bottom half of the table.
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Getty Images SportWHAT TEN HAG SAID
Despite mounting pressure and speculation regarding his job security, Ten Hag remains steadfast, insisting that the reports circulating in the press are fabrications.
When asked if he had got fresh assurances from the United hierarchy he replied,” No.”
He went on to add: “The noise is only coming from the media, from you guys. From some of you, not all of you, but some of you. Bringing up stories, creating stories, creating fairy tales, making noise, bringing lies. Because I know we are all on one page in this club. I told this before the break, I told several journalists, they didn’t believe me. I see the reports, but internal in the club it’s quiet.
“Of course, we are discussing the position where we are, that we are unhappy in the position where we are and we have to turn the corner, what has to happen with a strategy to turn this corner. But ultimately we are quiet, we are composed, we stay where we are, we stick to the plan and we are very convinced we will make it a success.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
However, Ten Hag acknowledged that his team must improve significantly to match the ambition of the fans but expressed belief in the team’s overall direction, citing positive patterns and stats.
“We have to climb a mountain, that’s top football and sometimes you have to face challenges,” he said. “Sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down but I am sure we will make it a success like we did the last two seasons. I think we are in a direction, underneath I see good things, I see good patterns, I see also good stats that confirm we are in a good direction but the ranking is not lying. We are where we are and it is not good enough.
“I think the players do well, we won last season. Maybe you forgot and when we face problems sometimes we have to line up teams that were not in the right balance because the players were not available. But, in general, the players do perform well and you see now we have to start scoring and that part is the most important part in football. If you want to win games you have to score goals. That part we have to improve. We are entering the final third, we are entering the box, we are coming in good positions to score but now we have to step up with the most important part is to net.”
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR TEN HAG?
With United set to face mid-table Brentford in their next Premier League fixture on Saturday, the pressure on Ten Hag to deliver results has never been greater. If United’s poor form continues, the calls for a managerial change will likely grow louder, leaving Ten Hag with little time to turn things around.
