In light of the uncertainties surrounding his future, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he is focused on making sure the team keeps improving and moving forward and that he does not need assurances from new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe on his job security.
After joining United in 2022, Ten Hag led the team to the League Cup championship and a third-place Premier League result in his first season. However, United’s current campaign hasn’t been as successful.
After falling 2-1 to Fulham in the league on Saturday, United, whose season has been marred by patchy play and injury concerns, is currently sixth in the standings.
The defeat, which came just three days after Ratcliffe vowed to bring United back to their glory days, added to the intense scrutiny and pressure on Ten Hag.
Asked whether it would benefit the club for Ratcliffe to publicly confirm Ten Hag as United’s long-term manager, the Dutchman told reporters: “I’m under contract for three seasons, so I don’t care.
“I am in this process, I’m only focusing on the process, so I don’t care what’s going on around me,” Ten Hag added, speaking ahead of a fifth-round FA Cup tie at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
“I have many talks with Sir Jim Radcliffe, also with Sir Dave Brailsford and others in that group, so I know what we are talking about and I have a strong belief and I feel that they believe in me.
“I want to win every game. I know I’m in a process, I know what I’m doing. I focus on those two points – progress of the team in this moment and the next game, and to think about the future, and to do that in togetherness.”
