Erik ten Hag is being backed by Tom Huddlestone to keep his job amid increasing uncertainty over the Dutchman’s future.
Manchester United are currently assessing Ten Hag’s status at the club, but Huddlestone – until last month player-coach for the club’s U21s – believes United are on a ‘positive trajectory’ with their current manager.
“This year they have been plagued by injuries, and not only the injuries like all other teams are bad, but they have always been in the same kind of position, which is in defence,” Huddlestone began in an exclusive chat with Mailsport.
“So I guess that would be one thing. If everyone can stay fully fit, I think the trajectory of the club under this leadership will be positive.”
He continued: ‘I think overall it will be a long process… I think the manager at the moment, especially last season when he was fit enough, is as good as most teams in the league.’
Tom Huddlestone, opposite Manchester City Under-21s, was United’s player-coach for two years
Man United finished eighth in the league under Erik ten Hag, but did win the FA Cup
Ten Hag’s second season at United saw three of his four favorite defenders miss significant time, with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw all dealing with long-term injuries.
Harry Maguire also missed time with calf and groin injuries, while new signing Mason Mount missed four months with a calf injury of his own.
With Varane and Martinez back in the line-up, United deservedly beat rivals Man City in the FA Cup final (after finishing eighth in the league), although it may not save Ten Hag’s job as the club has Gareth Southgate reserved to replace him, according to the Independent.
Huddlestone, who started working with the U21s in 2022, also spoke of a “perfect two years” in the player-coach role he held.
“For someone like me, who wants to go into coaching for the longer term and eventually into management, I think when you get to the end of your career, that role is kind of a perfect transitional season or two,” he said during his speech . of the North Carolina football tournament.
‘Because when you play… you benefit from a lot of the things that go on behind the scenes. The hours of preparation, understanding why coaches do certain sessions, setting up the sessions, analyzing the sessions afterwards, and all the preparation that goes to the opponent from match to match. ‘
Huddlestone spoke to Mail Sport from The Soccer Tournament in North Carolina
Huddlestone played in the competition alongside ex-Man City midfielder Stephen Ireland
“So it was excellent to see that side of it. And it has given me a real hunger to progress in my coaching career. And like I said, in two, three, four years, whatever it may be, hopefully one day I’ll be a manager.”
For now, the former England midfielder appears ready to keep playing and has high hopes for the Three Lions at this summer’s European Championship.
‘I think they have been to every tournament in England in my life as well [have] probably been a favorite.
‘I think England have recently come so close in major tournaments for the first time in a long time – not now or ever, but it almost feels like with this group of players… especially in attacking areas something special needs to happen. And no better place for England to achieve victory than in Germany.’