Erik ten Hag insists he has the backing of his Manchester United managers, but he will not know for sure until the team hits a difficult patch.
Ten Hag kept his job after winning the FA Cup in May and, while on holiday in Ibiza, held high-level talks with officials from co-owner Ineos, who interviewed a number of potential replacements behind his back.
The United manager believes he is now ‘in the same boat’ as United chief executive Sir Dave Brailsford and technical director Jason Wilcox, who have now been joined in the leadership team by chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth.
But Ten Hag knows that support could be tested again if United find themselves in trouble at any point this season.
“I feel like we’re building something and the people around me, us, are in the same boat,” he said. “But of course it’s always a proven fact when it’s there, but I hope we can prevent this.
Erik ten Hag believes he will only experience the support of the Man United management as a ‘proven point’ if they keep him through a difficult period
United tried to sign other managers but eventually decided to extend Ten Hag’s contract after he won the FA Cup
“We have good people. With very competent people, they will contribute to more success and I don’t think negatively. I feel positive and I feel very aligned. They are here, we are building those relationships and, as I said, we have to prove this point during the season and the coming years, how strong we are.”
“I want to work together. So togetherness, because I know that you achieve more success when you are together and I am here to win. But we want to win, so I have to feel this and when I feel this, we will win.”
In a wide-ranging interview at United’s training camp during a tour in Los Angeles, Ten Hag was asked whether he had confidence in people looking at other options, including as he prepared for the match against Manchester City in the cup final at Wembley.
He replied: ‘I feel very comfortable and I felt very comfortable when I believed in myself. But of course it helps when there is good communication and of course it is helpful when you feel the support of the leadership group. That helps, because then you know what you are building towards, that you are doing it together.
“When you’re in a really good, really strong band that gives you confidence, gives you belief. The locker room too, they’re going to feel it, they’re going to feel this strong belief that’s going to build up in the locker room and they’re going to build it up on the field.”
Ultimately, United decided to keep the 54-year-old and extend his contract for another 12 months, but Ten Hag insists he was never worried about his situation.
“For me, I don’t need it because I have enough security in my life and in my career,” he said. “I have enough belief that I know I will be successful if I have a team.
“It’s important that we’re together and that we work together. When you work together, you have good moments, but you also have bad moments.
He believes he is in ‘the same boat’ as other members of Manchester United’s leadership team (Sir Dave Brailsford left, Jason Wilcox right)
United have won their last three friendlies against Rangers, Arsenal (on penalties) and Real Betis
This is the first summer since Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos took over the running of the football operations
If it is questioned in the environment, it will naturally flow through to a team and that does not contribute to achieving success.
“But I always felt strong because I believe in myself. I believe that even in difficult circumstances I can manage a team with a strong mentality. I believe that I can manage a team in winning positions, but of course it will really help if you have strong people around you with great skills to help you.
“I was never distracted from the mission. So I came here two years ago and this group of players hadn’t won trophies in six years.
“I said we’re also on a mission and we’re here to win, and we’re building, and we knew it wasn’t going to happen overnight. We’ve got to work really hard and we’re going to have setbacks along the way.
‘The first season I think was very successful, with two finals. We won one, we lost one – we should have won that – and we finished third (in the Premier League). And we got far in Europe, we played more than 60 games.
‘Last season there were a lot of setbacks, that was clear. But in the end we were rewarded, because we kept believing and we won a great trophy and so we have a foundation.
‘So many people gave me negative advice when I started at this club. I could have done projects with much better conditions, with much better structures, but I chose this: Man United. I feel that this is my club. And I want to take on this challenge, even though I knew it would be very hard.
“But you don’t know until you’re in it, and there are some challenges here. But we’ve overcome a lot of obstacles and we still have more to overcome, but, and I said it in the spring, I feel like we’re on the right track. And even in the summer I think a lot of positive things happened that will help us accelerate this process.”
Ten Hag claimed that he could have accepted ‘a project with better conditions’ before he came to work for us.
The Dutchman revealed that he has brought two trophies to the club after a six-year drought
Sir Alex Ferguson saved his job by winning the FA Cup in 1990 and went on to enjoy a period of unprecedented success at United, but Ten Hag is not caught up in sentiment. ‘I don’t dream,’ he said. ‘We have to live today and build a future, but not look too far ahead. We have that foundation and I think we are on the right track.
“But we have to do better. We have to make improvements because many clubs around us are also improving and they also have the financial conditions to build very good teams and clubs. So in history it was probably a race between two horses. Now we are talking about seven or eight clubs that are capable of developing very strong teams.”
Ten Hag was asked about the decision to bring back Jadon Sancho after the two men had a social disagreement last season, which ultimately saw Sancho return to Borussia Dortmund on loan.
“We’ve put this behind us and we’ve said everything about it,” the United boss said. “We know what the standards are and how we want to work, how we want to work together, and we need a good team.
“We just talked about the standards, the levels, the skills. When I took over, you needed good players to build a good team and he’s definitely a very good player.”
So has Sancho Ten Hag offered the apology he demanded? ‘I think we’ve said everything about it, so we’ve put it behind us and I think our statement says it all and it was clear and obvious.’
Ten Hag was also asked about Marcus Rashford, who was twice reprimanded by his manager last season for going to a nightclub. He said he is confident the England international can return to his top form.
“Of course, but he has to prove this point,” Ten Hag said. “We are going to create the conditions and he is very capable of doing that. The season before he scored 30 goals, so when he is in the right mood, he has so much potential. And when he is really in that mood, our game model will give him the conditions to score 30 goals again or even more.
He revealed that he and Jadon Sancho have ‘put their feud from last season behind them’
The transfer plans have not changed despite the injuries of Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro, he said
“He should fight for it, but we’re not robots. We’re dealing with people. And everyone, you’re not always at your best.
“He’s capable of being that impact player. If he does that, he’s such an important player for our team because goals are clearly the difference. I expect him to be that player this season.”
On the wider issue of indiscipline within his team, Ten Hag added: ‘I think if you want to play top football these days, you need discipline on and off the pitch. It was always important, but it’s becoming more and more important now because it’s about the survival of the fittest.
‘You’re not a robot, you’re not a machine. Nobody is. You can only deliver the levels of performance if you do things right. If you don’t do things right on and off the pitch, you can’t perform.’
Ten Hag dismissed suggestions that a long-term injury to new £59million defender Leny Yoro and a six-week absence for striker Rasmus Hojlund could impact the rest of his summer transfer plans in terms of player arrivals or departures.
United have already signed Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee for £36.5million and have shown interest in Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt and Everton’s Branthwaite.
“No, this doesn’t change anything,” he said. “We have a plan and we’re sticking to the plan.”
