Ten Hag demands clarity on the future amid United’s crisis

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has called on the club’s hierarchy to clarify his position amid growing speculation about his future.

Ten Hag’s side extended their winless run to five games with a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa, leaving them 14th in the Premier League with seven points from seven matches. 

It has been a poor start of the season for the Dutch gaffer at the helm of affairs. 

Co-chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe and other top officials were in attendance at Villa Park, but Ten Hag remains in the dark about his fate.

“If they intend to sack me, they should have told me by now,” Ten Hag said. “We communicate openly and transparently.”

“We speak continuously, every week, every day. I expect to speak with them, but I don’t have any idea that is different,” Ten Hag added.

When pressed on his future, Ten Hag emphasised, “External noise, internal – we are disappointed. We know we have to do better, especially scoring more.”

Ten Hag highlighted United’s defensive improvements, citing four clean sheets this season, but acknowledged the need for more ruthlessness in attack.

“This is our fourth clean sheet in this season, and that tells something about the control we have in and out of possession,” Ten Hag stressed. “We are organised very well.”

However, he conceded, “We have to be more ruthless, more clinical, more killing. We have to work on this.”

On United’s attacking struggles, Ten Hag noted, “We created loads of chances in many games so far. Today we didn’t create that much, but we had the chances.”

United have scored just five goals in the league, with only Southampton managing fewer.

Ten Hag expects to hold discussions with the hierarchy in the coming days. United’s next match is after the international break.