Erik ten Hag 'resigned to the sack' as Man Utd players notice 'mood change' in under-fire manager

Erik ten Hag 'resigned to the sack' as Man Utd players notice 'mood change' in under-fire manager

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Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 11/04/2024

- 08:16

The Red Devils boss is under increasing pressure for his position

Manchester United players believe Erik ten Hag is resigned to being sacked at the end of the season, according to reports.

The Dutchman is under pressure following a disappointing campaign at Old Trafford, with Champions League qualification looking unlikely.


United sit sixth in the Premier League, 11 points behind Tottenham in fourth, having lost 12 of their 31 matches.

They crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage but are in the semi-final of the FA Cup, facing a favourable tie against Coventry later this month.

Erik ten Hag

Man Utd news: Erik ten Hag is resigned to being sacked, reports say

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Speculation over Ten Hag's future has increased following the confirmation of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment in February.

Ratcliffe has already appointed a new chief executive and is in the process of bringing in a sporting director and technical director.

The British billionaire could decide to make a change in the dugout too.

The Sun claims that United players have seen a 'change in mood' in Ten Hag in recent weeks.

The players believe he now knows he will lose his job come the end of the campaign.

The same report says former Chelsea boss Graham Potter is in line to take over after holding talks with Ratcliffe.

Ten Hag has been in charge since arriving from Ajax in 2022 and won the Carabao Cup in his first season in charge.

Last week, the 54-year-old said he had no doubts that he would stay beyond the summer.

He told Sky Sports: "I don't have any doubts. I'm just focusing on my job, focusing on this process, in this project.

"I really love to be here, I'm enjoying it. For me it's a challenge."

A big criticism often aimed at Ten Hag is a lack of clear identity in his style of play.

United legends such as Gary Neville and Roy Keane have regularly questioned his approach.

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Erik ten Hag

Man Utd news: Erik ten Hag has been in charge at United since 2022

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But Ten Hag cannot understand the negative comments. He said: "I can't take this serious, it's so obvious. I think we're playing very good football against the biggest teams.

"We get ourselves in winning positions and not by luck - by playing decent football.

"[Against Chelsea] we dominated that game with how much tempo and intensity, how much creativity.

"And not by luck or by coincidence. No. We scored incredibly good goals.

Erik ten Hag

Man Utd news: United players have seen a mood change in Erik ten Hag

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"Because we have clear principles, we have clear rules how we want to play. Our way of playing is very clear and obvious.

"I don't know and I don't care. Because that is their assessment.

"We know where we are, we know what our identity is. We know where we want to go through."

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