Erik ten Hag is under significant pressure as he maintains a firm stance against any fears of being dismissed, even as Manchester United approaches a critical sequence of fixtures before the international break. The team is preparing for a challenging Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday, subsequent to their Europa League encounter with Porto.
Despite a recent setback against Tottenham Hotspur, where United played for an extended period with ten men due to a red card that has since been overturned, Ten Hag is focused on leveraging these challenges as a source of motivation. He acknowledged the frustration stemming from playing at a disadvantage during the Spurs match, yet he insists that there is no reason to panic, conveying his confidence in the team’s ability to improve this season.
Amidst these challenges, Ten Hag pointed to the success United has achieved under his leadership, referencing the Carabao Cup win during his debut season and a notable FA Cup victory last year. As he continues to guide the squad’s development, United is preparing for the upcoming fixtures with a robust 23-man contingent in Portugal. Despite injuries to key players like Mason Mount, Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, and Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire was able to travel, and Kobbie Mainoo has been included following his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained against Spurs.
On Recent Challenges
Erik ten Hag remarked, “As always when we are not winning, we are very disappointed, and we are also mad, mad with ourselves and especially when you lose a game like Sunday.” On the challenges faced in the Spurs match, he further explained, “After all, when you had to play such a long time with 10 players and after the red card is overturned, that gives frustration because such a long time to play with 10 is of course never in your advantage and had a real impact on the game but you have to deal with it.”
On Motivation and Future Fixtures
In light of the recent setbacks, Ten Hag expressed his resolve to channel the team’s emotions into constructive energy: “We are mad and from the madness we have to get motivation and go onto the next game.”
On the Current Run of Form
During an interview before departing for Portugal, Ten Hag downplayed concerns about the team’s current performance, asserting, “there’s no need to panic about” and emphasized his commitment to turning the season around.
