- Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag still has the support of the dressing room
- Ineos always planned to tackle Ten Hag’s situation at the end of the season
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Manchester United players are increasingly doubtful whether manager Erik ten Hag will be in charge next season.
Ten Hag still has the support of the dressing room, despite some complaints about the intensity of his training regime.
However, Mail Sport understands that many in the United squad believe it is likely that new co-owner Ineos will make a change at the end of the season and sack the Dutchman after two years at the helm.
Although Ten Hag insists he is on the same page as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford, and feels aligned with them thanks to positive conversations, he has confided to coaching staff and agents that he has no guarantees about his performance. future at Old Trafford.
After appointing Omar Berrada as United’s new CEO and moving closer to bringing in Dan Ashworth as director of football, Ineos has always intended to address Ten Hag’s situation at the end of the season.
Manchester United players are increasingly doubtful whether Erik ten Hag will remain in charge next season
The Red Devils boss has struggled with consistency at times in his second term at the helm
Ten Hag still thinks he is on the same wavelength as new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
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It is not impossible that the 54-year-old could get a reprieve if he wins the FA Cup and qualifies for the Champions League – even if he finishes fifth.
But a second Premier League defeat in a week in Sunday’s Manchester derby leaves United behind Aston Villa and Tottenham in the race for places in the Champions League, with Ten Hag’s side drawn in the quarter-finals of the cup played against Liverpool.
Injuries have had a serious impact on the manager’s second season at the club, and on Monday it emerged that there have been 47 separate cases of players missing matches due to injury or illness.
In the last two games alone, Bruno Fernandes, Raphael Varane, Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans played half-fit, which in itself indicates loyalty to Ten Hag.
However, it was a surprise to see Luke Shaw risk against Luton last month, just a week after limping off at Aston Villa, resulting in a potentially season-ending injury.
There is dissatisfaction among some players about the intensity of the training and the tough approach of the manager and his number 2 Mitchell van der Gaag.
Some players were unhappy not to be given an extra day off after the Luton match, despite United not having a midweek match.
There is a belief that Ten Hag needs to freshen up the sessions and make it easier for the players to keep them fit for the remainder of the campaign.