Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth have thrown their full support behind under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils recorded their lowest-ever Premier League finish last season, dropping to eighth in the standings, while they have already lost two of their three matches to open the 2024/25 campaign.
Ten Hag’s job came under serious scrutiny during 2023/24 and he was widely expected to be sacked in the summer. However, United beat rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final, and despite the club hierarchy meeting with potential replacements, they opted to hand the Dutchman a one-year contract extension instead.
In a Q&A with English press prior to Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at home to Liverpool, Berrada and Ashworth claimed that though the decision to keep Ten Hag was made prior to their arrivals this summer, he has their full support.
Berrada said: “So in terms of the contract [extension], that was a decision that was taken prior to both of our arrivals. But as I said before, we’re very happy with that decision. Erik has our full backing and we have worked very closely together, as Dan said before, in this transfer window. We’re going to continue working very closely with him to help him get the best results out of the team.
“Do we still believe in? Erik? Absolutely. We think Erik is the right coach for us and we’re fully backing him.”
It was then put to Ashworth, who previously held similar roles at Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Bromwich Albion, that it may be considered ‘odd’ to inherit a manager from a previous regime.
“Well, it happened at Newcastle with Eddie Howe, it happened at West Brom, Tony Mowbray was in place,” he retorted. “Very rarely do you go into a job as a sporting director and there’s no manager in place.”
When asked if he had any say in Ten Hag staying, Ashworth replied: “I didn’t start until July 1, so none whatsoever.
“All I can do is reiterate what I remember saying, I’ve really enjoyed working with Erik for the last eight weeks.
“I see my job is to support him in every way I possibly can, and whether that’s operationally, whether that’s with recruitment, whether that’s with medical, whether that’s with psychology, whether that’s training ground flow, it’s just to take as much of that off him to allow him to fully focus on the training pitch and the match tactical plan to deliver success for Manchester United.”
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