Erik ten Hag slams critics as he opens up on Manchester United future

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has downplayed the need for any assurances regarding his position at the club, dismissing recent reports as “fairy tales.”

As Ten Hag prepares to lead United in their Premier League clash against Brentford at Old Trafford on Saturday, speculation about his future continues to swirl.

This will mark his 126th game in charge of the club, amid ongoing uncertainty about his long-term role.

Recent reports linked Thomas Tuchel as a potential replacement for Ten Hag before the Football Association fast-tracked their plans to appoint Tuchel as England’s next coach.

Meanwhile, former England boss Gareth Southgate has effectively ruled himself out of the running for the United job, having announced his intention to take a year away from football.

Despite the rumours, United’s hierarchy has remained silent on Ten Hag’s future during the October international break.

However, the Dutchman appeared upbeat when facing the media.

“No,” Erik Ten Hag replied when asked if he had received assurances.

“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.”

After seven matches, Manchester United find themselves in 14th place in the Premier League table, with a goal difference of -3.

The team has struggled offensively, scoring fewer goals than all but one other club, Southampton.

“We have to climb a mountain, that’s top football and sometimes you have to face challenge,” Erik Ten Hag added.

“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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