Erik ten Hag issues defiant message after Manchester United players leave him 'stunned'
The pressure has increased on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag after his team suffered a third defeat in their first six Premier League matches on Sunday afternoon
by Tom Victor · The MirrorManchester United manager Erik ten Hag insisted he has faith in his team to turn things around after their difficult start to the season prompted questions over his future.
United finished eighth last season, only qualifying for Europe thanks to their FA Cup triumph, and spent big over the summer in an effort to change their fortunes. Ten Hag was backed by the club's ownership and rewarded with a contract extension, but a slow start has seen pressure pile on the Dutchman.
Sunday's defeat at home to Tottenham left United on just seven points from six games, even fewer than at this stage last season. They also dropped points at home to FC Twente in their Europa League opener, with the manager lamenting a failure to kill off the game.
Ten Hag's team have a tricky pair of matches ahead of them, against Porto in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the Premier League. Speaking ahead of the trip to Portugal, the former Ajax manager indicated he has survived worse in the past and believes he can kick-start his side's season.
"Nothing is easy, but this is nothing for me to panic about, because I experienced it so often with my teams during seasons, that you are facing these problems," Ten Hag told Sky Sports. "So we can sort them out. This team can sort this out."
Despite Ten Hag's optimism, though, some have begun calling for United to make a change in the dugout. Among those left baffled by the team's most recent display is former Netherlands manager Frank de Boer, who pulled no punches in his assessment for Viaplay TV.
“I am stunned by what I saw in Manchester," De Boer said. "It became even more clear how bad United are when I looked at the way Tottenham played from the back, how they built things up, always finding a free player, showing guts on the ball and having the right power in a fight for the ball. I found it remarkable how an opponent of United’s could play like that.”
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Ten Hag admitted his team's display against Tottenham wasn't good enough. A first-half red card for Bruno Fernandes made his team's task tougher - and the captain's ban has since been overturned on appeal - but a Spurs side shorn of their own skipper Son Heung-min were already on top before eventually running out 3-0 victors.
“It is a bad performance (against Tottenham)," Ten Hag added. "I have to address the problems to give the solutions to the team. The most important (thing) is keep the belief. That is the most important message because if you lose your faith, you lose everything.
“Even after all the setbacks (on Sunday) we kept going. This is a team, they want to fight for each other. When we lose, everyone is disappointed and frustrated but it is also our fuel.”
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Europa League opponents Porto go into the match with a 100 percent record at home, and with six wins from seven Primeira Liga matches in total. However, they lost their first Europa League game away to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.
It is the first time the teams have met since a 2009 Champions League quarter-final. On that occasion, United were held to a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford before winning at the Dragao through an early goal from Cristiano Ronaldo.
The looming trip to Villa Park on Sunday isn't the easiest on paper either, but it's one in which Ten Hag managed to get a vital win last season. United moved within five points of Villa in February when Scott McTominay scored a late winner against Unai Emery's side, but the gap had widened by the time the season was over.
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