Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag remains confident he will be given the time needed to turn the club’s fortunes around despite a disappointing 3-0 loss to Tottenham at home on Sunday.
United got off to a disastrous start, conceding just three minutes into the game when Brennan Johnson tapped in from Micky van de Ven’s run through the heart of United’s defense. The situation worsened as captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off with a straight red card before halftime. Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke later sealed Tottenham’s dominance with two more goals in the second half.
Ten Hag began the season under pressure after surviving an internal review following last season’s disappointing eighth-place finish—United’s worst in Premier League history. The team has struggled so far, winning just two of their first six games and currently sitting 12th in the league table.
When asked whether he was concerned the club’s new football leadership might consider replacing him, Ten Hag remained resolute: “We made the decision together in the summer—ownership, leadership, and management—based on a clear review of what needs to improve and how to build the squad.”
The Dutch manager, who was handed a one-year contract extension just three months ago, acknowledged the need for rapid improvement. United face two tough away fixtures this week against Porto in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the Premier League. “I believe we will get better, but we need some time. Everyone—ownership, leadership, staff, and players—is aligned and working towards the same goal,” he added.
Ten Hag expressed frustration at how United conceded in similar fashion to both FC Twente in the Europa League midweek and Tottenham on Sunday. Micky van de Ven’s solo run set up Johnson’s opener, and Ten Hag was critical of the team’s lack of composure. “As a team, it can’t happen that a defender dribbles through our entire half twice in a few days. The first 30 minutes were well below the level expected of a Manchester United team,” he said.
Former United captain Gary Neville branded the first-half performance a “disgrace,” while Bruno Fernandes defended his dismissal, arguing that it was undeserved. The Portuguese international claimed he merely slipped while challenging Tottenham’s James Maddison. “Never a red card, in my opinion. If the referee wants to give me a yellow for a potential counter-attack, I’d understand. But a red? No, that’s not fair,” Fernandes asserted.
