Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth have thrown their full help behind under-fire supervisor Erik ten Hag.
The Pink Devils recorded their lowest-ever Premier League end final season, dropping to eighth within the standings, whereas they’ve already misplaced two of their three matches to open the 2024/25 marketing campaign.
Ten Hag’s job got here below critical scrutiny throughout 2023/24 and he was broadly anticipated to be sacked in the summertime.
Nevertheless, United beat rivals Manchester Metropolis within the FA Cup closing, and regardless of the membership hierarchy assembly with potential replacements, they opted at hand the Dutchman a one-year contract extension as a substitute.
In a Q&A with English press previous to Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at residence to Liverpool, Berrada and Ashworth claimed that although the choice to maintain Ten Hag was made previous to their arrivals this summer season, he has their full help.
Berrada stated: “So when it comes to the contract [extension], that was a call that was taken previous to each of our arrivals. However as I stated earlier than, we’re very pleased with that call. Erik has our full backing and we’ve got labored very carefully collectively, as Dan stated earlier than, on this switch window. We’re going to proceed working very carefully with him to assist him get the very best outcomes out of the workforce.
“Will we nonetheless imagine in? Erik? Completely. We expect Erik is the precise coach for us and we’re totally backing him.”
It was then put to Ashworth, who beforehand held related roles at Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Bromwich Albion, that it could be thought-about ‘odd’ to inherit a supervisor from a earlier regime.
“Effectively, it occurred at Newcastle with Eddie Howe, it occurred at West Brom, Tony Mowbray was in place,” he retorted. “Very not often do you go right into a job as a sporting director and there’s no supervisor in place.”
When requested if he had any say in Ten Hag staying, Ashworth replied: “I didn’t begin till July 1, so none in anyway.
“All I can do is reiterate what I bear in mind saying, I’ve actually loved working with Erik for the final eight weeks.
“I see my job is to help him in each manner I probably can, and whether or not that’s operationally, whether or not that’s with recruitment, whether or not that’s with medical, whether or not that’s with psychology, whether or not that’s coaching floor move, it’s simply to take as a lot of that off him to permit him to completely deal with the coaching pitch and the match tactical plan to ship success for Manchester United.”