Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag continues to enjoy the support of key figures at Old Trafford as he strives to bring sustained success to the club.
Despite enduring a challenging season that saw United finish eighth in the Premier League their worst performance since 1990, the Dutchman secured his position by leading the team to an FA Cup victory against Manchester City.
However, after a 3-0 defeat at home to Liverpool last Sunday, which left United languishing in 14th place with just three points from their first three matches, Ten Hag is once again under intense pressure.
The upcoming match against Southampton on 14 September, following the international break, could be crucial. A loss would mark United's worst start to a season since 1986-87, a year that saw Ron Atkinson dismissed and replaced by Sir Alex Ferguson after a similarly poor run.
For now, Ten Hag has the backing of the club’s newly restructured football hierarchy, led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Speaking before the Liverpool match, chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth expressed their confidence in Ten Hag’s leadership, despite not being involved in the decision to retain him after last season.
"It was a decision taken before both of our arrivals, but we are very happy with it," Berrada said. "Erik has our full backing. We believe he is the right coach for us. We have worked closely together during the transfer window and will continue to support him to achieve the best results for the team."
Ashworth, who joined the club following his tenure at Newcastle United, acknowledged the unusual circumstance of working with a manager already in place. "It's rare to come into a role as a sporting director without a manager," Ashworth noted. "I've thoroughly enjoyed working with Erik over the past eight weeks. My job is to support him in every possible way, from recruitment and medical needs to the training ground, allowing him to focus on tactics and team performance to deliver success for Manchester United."
