PERMANENT MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGERS SINCE SIR ALEX FERGUSON'S RETIREMENT

 

ERIK YEN HAG: EX-MAN UTD BOSS HITS OUT AT BAYER LEVERKUSEN AFTER UNPRECEDENTED EXIT

Leverkusen’s sporting director revealed that the club had concerns as early as preseason.

Erik ten Hag became the quickest departure in Bundesliga history. / Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images

Freshly departed Bayer Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag accused the Bundesliga outfit of never offering him any “mutual trust” before he was sacked just two weeks into the new domestic campaign.

Ten Hag was relieved of his duties on Monday morning after collecting one point from his first pair of league games. Never before had a manager from Germany’s flight lasted less than three matches—and Dieter Hecking’s previous record was a positive as he got poached by Hannover 96 after steering Alemannia Aachen to a 3–0 win against his future employers in the third week of the 2006–07 campaign.

The omens were grim for Ten Hag throughout the summer. A humiliating 5–1 loss to Flamengo’s U20 side was sandwiched between an exodus of star figures. By the time Leverkusen had given up a 3–1 lead against 10-man Werder Bremen on Saturday, a game which club captain Robert Andrich described as “misery versus misery,” the writing was on the wall for the former Manchester United boss.

Not that he read the signs. “The decision by Bayer Leverkusen’s management this morning to put me on a leave of absence came as a complete surprise,” Ten Hag wrote in a stinging post on his agency’s Instagram. “To part ways with a coach after just two league matches is unprecedented.

Erik ten Hag only returned to management this summer after his exit from Manchester United. / Christof Koepsel/Getty Images

“This summer, many key players who were part of past successes left the squad. Building a new, cohesive team is a careful process that requires both time and trust. A new coach deserves the space to implement his vision, set the standards, shape the squad and leave his mark on the style of play.

“I started this job with full conviction and energy, but unfortunately the management was not willing to grant me the time and trust I needed, which I deeply regret. I feel this was never a relationship based on mutual trust.”

Those feelings were justified. As Leverkusen sporting director Simons Rolfes sensationally revealed 90 minutes after Ten Hag’s departure, the club had discussed sacking a coach appointed on July 1 before this weekend’s collapse in Bremen. “Before we arrive at the wrong destination, we decided to make the decision early,” was the brutal explanation provided.

“Of course, from the impressions from the preseason, from the first few games, we had the feeling that we had to do it now,” Rolfes damningly admitted.

“Throughout my career, every season I have been able to see through to the end as a coach has brought success,” Ten Hag declared in his bitter farewell. “Clubs that placed their trust in me have been rewarded with success and silverware.

“Finally, I would like to thank the Bayer Leverkusen supporters for their warmth and passion, and I wish the squad and staff every success for the remainder of the season.”

- Grey Whitebloom

ERIK TEN HAG SUCCEED

Erik ten Hag has been confirmed as the new manager of Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

Ten Hag, who had been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United last October, replaces Xabi Alonso as boss after the Spanish coach left to join Real Madrid.

Leverkusen finished second in the Bundesliga this season but still boast much of the squad that helped them win the title in a historic unbeaten league campaign in 2023-24.

ESPN reported on Saturday that Ten Hag and his representatives held constructive talks with the Bundesliga side and now the agreement has been made official.

Ten Hag, 55, spent just over two seasons at Old Trafford before being dismissed amid a poor run of results just five months after winning the FA Cup. However, Man United have continued to struggle since the Dutch coach's departure.

His replacement Ruben Amorim has managed just seven Premier League wins on the way to a 15th-placed finish, while the club also lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Before joining United, Ten Hag won three Eredivisie titles with Ajax and led the team to a Champions League semifinal in 2018-19. He has coached in Germany before, having managed Bayern Munich II from 2013 to 2015.

Erik ten Hag's first job after being sacked by Manchester United has come with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images

"With Erik ten Hag we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch. His six title wins at Ajax were exceptional," Leverkusen's sporting managing director Simon Rolfes said in a statement.

"With three league titles and two domestic cup wins he and Ajax dominated Dutch football from 2018 to 2022. And Erik demonstrated his quality as a coach with the ensuing success at Manchester United under difficult circumstances at times."

In his new role, Ten Hag may have to do without Leverkusen's star performer, Florian Wirtz, who has been strongly linked with a transfer away this summer. Sources have told ESPN that Liverpool are leading the race for the Germany international's signature.

Ten Hag said Leverkusen are: "One of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe. The club offers outstanding conditions, I've been very impressed with the discussions of the management.

"I've come to Leverkusen to continue with the ambition shown in recent years. It's an attractive challenge to set up something together in this period of change and develop an ambitious team."

- ESPN

BRUNO FERNANDES APOLOGISED TO ERIK TEN HAG AFTER MAN UNITED SACK

Bruno Fernandes has revealed he called Erik ten Hag to apologise after the Dutchman was sacked by Manchester United.

Fernandes scored a penalty as United drew 1-1 with Chelsea in their first Premier League game since Ten Hag's dismissal on Monday.

The midfielder said he has spoken to his former boss following the decision and admitted the players must take their share of responsibility for Ten Hag's departure.

"Whenever you see a manager go you have to take some of the blame on yourself, it is because the team is not doing so well," Fernandes told Sky.

"It is easier to get rid of a manager than 15 players. I spoke to the manager [Ten Hag] and apologised to him, I was disappointed he has gone and I tried to help him. I wasn't scoring goals, we are not scoring goals and I feel responsible.

"It is not good for anyone at the club when the manager goes. The team is not the best, the results are not the best and he is the one who pays for it."

Following Ten Hag's departure, United have beaten Leicester in the Carabao Cup and drawn with Chelsea in the Premier League under caretaker boss Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Bruno Fernandes scored Manchester United's only goal in their Premier League clash against Chelsea. Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

He has another two games in charge before Rúben Amorim takes the reins on Nov. 11.

Van Nistelrooy admitted it's been a "difficult" week at the club and said the players have had to "look in the mirror" after a poor start to the season.

"It has been very difficult from last Monday to today, six days, a rollercoaster of emotions," Van Nistelrooy said. "It's very sad seeing Erik leave.

"The next day you have to start to focus on getting the lads ready for Leicester because 75,000 people show up here at Old Trafford and the players feel they have an obligation to do better.

"They look in the mirror and their reactions then and today show they think about things."

Van Nistelrooy's long-term future remains up in the air after Amorim stated his intention to bring his own coaching staff to Old Trafford.

The 48-year-old will lead the team against POAK in the Europa League on Thursday and against Leicester in the Premier League on Sunday but is still waiting to learn whether he will stay beyond the November international break.

"I am open for the future," he said. "We all will be backing him [Amorim] and helping him to get Man United where we want them to be.

"I look forward to get to know him better. He has done very well in Portugal. He's a young, talented coach and he's done very well in Portugal."

- Rob Dawson, Correspondent

ERIK TEN HAG TO MANCHESTER UNITED FANS

 

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MAN UNITED MANAGER RÚBEN AMORIM

Manchester United have agreed to a deal bringing Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim in to replace Erik ten Hag, but what type of manager are they getting?

In only his third senior job, Amorim, 39, guided Sporting to two Portuguese league titles after arriving from Braga in 2020. Prior to his appointment, the Lisbon giants had waited 19 years to end their title drought.

Usually favouring a defensive back three with attack-minded wing-backs, Amorim's sides are attractive to watch. Starting play from the back and interchanging positions -- with centre-backs even joining the buildup -- Sporting are incredibly flexible and one of the most aggressive sides in Portugal without the ball.

Amorim was considered by Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and West Ham for their vacant managerial roles last season before he committed his future to Sporting at the end of last season. But now he has opted to test himself in the Premier League. So what can Man United expect?

A studious thinker

As a player, Amorim was seen as a studious, methodical thinker, enjoying a respectable career that saw him amass more than 100 games for Lisbon side Belenenses before rejoining Benfica, where he'd come through the youth ranks.

A tactically astute and technically gifted central midfielder who was particularly good at keeping the ball and building play from deep, he also proved valuable as a utility player, occasionally deputising at right-back. Though unusual for a top-level Portuguese footballer of his generation, he had to wait until he was 30 years old to move abroad, spending a season in Qatar at the tail end of a playing career that saw him win 14 senior international caps. -- Karlsen

Rúben Amorim has had only a few years experience as a manager and is now in charge of Manchester United. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)

A coaching rise reminiscent of Jose Mourinho

Amorim's rise as a head coach in Portugal is so spectacular it can only be rivalled by Jose Mourinho, who went on to great things in Serie A, the Premier League and LaLiga after winning the UEFA Champions League with FC Porto early in his managerial career in 2004.

In 2018, perhaps too eager to get his coaching career off the ground, Amorim was suspended months into his first job at third-tier Casa Pia as he was deemed to have taken an active role on the touchline without having the appropriate UEFA badges. Initially the club were threatened with a points deduction and Amorim was handed a 12-month ban from the dugout. Although the proposed punishment was eventually lifted, the young coach resigned, next taking a post with Braga's B-side nine months later once he had the appropriate qualifications.

The job may have been designed for Amorim to gradually learn his trade, but those plans went out the window after three months as he was unexpectedly promoted to head coach of the Braga first team in December 2019. In 13 games, he led them to two wins against Porto (including a League Cup title), a double against Sporting CP, and an away win at Benfica for the first time in 65 years. The three-month spell convinced Sporting's management that Amorim was a coaching prodigy and, controversially due to his playing career at rivals Benfica, the club moved swiftly to secure his services, paying his €10 million release clause in March 2020.

Sporting's decision to pay a Portuguese record transfer fee for a manager was soon justified. In his first full season (2020-21) Amorim led the club to its first league title in 19 years and repeated the feat last season. This season, he has overseen nine league wins from nine games with 30 goals scored and only two conceded. -- Karlsen

'Nothing fake about him'

Amorim is detailed-oriented, which is how he is able to get his message across on the training ground. But one source close to the manager told ESPN that his willingness to learn and awareness of his own strengths and weaknesses are particularly useful.

Another source close to the manager highlighted his general likability and easy manner with other people. "I think the thing that impresses me the most about Ruben is that he's genuine. There's nothing fake about him. And everyone can feel that -- players, other coaches, or the average person. He's not big-headed or boastful in any way -- just a nice person -- and people trust him because of that."

While niceness alone might not get you very far in football management, a quick glance at how Sporting operate as a unit indicates that he also possesses some authority to go with it. Similarly, his record in promoting young players (Gonçalo Inacio, Ousmane Diomande, Geny Catamo) or getting the best out of his squad players would never have materialised without a high level of empathy and understanding of human nature. -- Karlsen

How Amorim ended up on Man United's radar, and how they signed him

Manchester United had been ready to fire Ten Hag at the end of last season, following the team's eighth-place finish in the Premier League, but a 2-1 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final kept Ten Hag in a job, albeit after a two-week review period in the wake of the cup final.

United spoke to several managers at the end of last season, including Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Roberto De Zerbi and Kieran McKenna. Gareth Southgate, then England manager, had strong internal support but was ruled out because of his determination to focus solely on his Euro 2024 commitments. Sources familiar with the situation have told ESPN that United "got pretty far down the road" with Tuchel before the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach backed out of the running, telling United he was not ready for a return to work after leaving Bayern in May and would instead wait until the autumn. Tuchel was named as England manager in October.

While Amorim was not on the short list at the end of last season, sources familiar with the situation said his credentials began to be assessed by United during the summer as part of contingency planning in the event Ten Hag, who had been given a one-year contract extension, failed to take the team forward. And after United lost 3-0 at home to Tottenham at the end of September, the Old Trafford hierarchy actively stepped up their research of Amorim -- along with other coaches, including Xavi and former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic -- as Ten Hag's position became increasingly tenuous.

Sources around the team have told ESPN, however, that while the Spurs game raised alarm within United, a decision to fire Ten Hag was not made at that point. Instead, the team decided to make plans to replace him if the loss of form continued.

Omar Berrada, the United CEO whom they recruited from Manchester City last season, was a strong advocate for Amorim, team sources said, and he quickly became the favoured option because of his track record in Portugal, his communication skills and the relatively inexpensive £8.3 million release clause at Sporting. Discreet discussions with Amorim and other candidates continued during the October international break, and a decision was made to move for the Sporting coach following Sunday's 2-1 defeat at West Ham, which proved to be Ten Hag's final game in charge. -- Ogden

A 3-4-3 with aggressive pressing

Amorim has stayed loyal to a possession-based 3-4-3 (3-4-2-1) formation while occasionally fielding two central strikers. This unwavering allegiance to a set formation has seen him labelled a dogmatic coach -- sources close to the manager told ESPN's Mark Ogden that his insistence on a back three was one factor that may have cost him the Liverpool job in the summer -- but his tactical concept is a well-drilled, collective approach born out of hours of meticulous work on the training ground. There may be some room for individualism, but first and foremost he expects tactical discipline and loyalty from his players.

Defence: Inviting the opposition to press high to open space in his midfield, Amorim wants his three centre-backs and goalkeeper to be comfortable on the ball in order to start attacks.

Midfield: He tends to prefer a balanced pair who are positionally cautious rather than impatient box-to-box types -- though half of the duo is given the liberty of making deeps runs into the box.

Attack: Amorim has been known to field out-and-out wingers as wing-backs, with the emergence of 17-year-old Geovany Quenda this season a case in point. Up front, he favours something akin to a "double No. 10" to tuck in behind the central striker in order to invite combinations with his attacking wing-backs. The key, however, is to create movement and space around this striker, who tends to operate very centrally.

Ranking the top 50 best men's club managers in Europe

No. 16. RUBEN AMORIM, 39

Coaching acumen: 13/20
Style: 15/20
People management: 14/20
Communication: 14/20
History/achievements: 3/10
X factor: 7/10

Total: 66/100

In quotes

Man United captain Bruno Fernandes: "Since Coach Amorim arrived to Sporting they became one of the teams that play better and most consistent football. I think the signings have been right, and they are in a very good moment. They've won last year and this season have started leading in the standings. It's a very well-prepared team," he said at a news conference with Portugal earlier this month.

"Regarding Mr. Amorim, I spoke about him several times and I said that at this moment he is well-prepared because it is not easy to win titles at Sporting. Sporting was 20 years without winning trophies. Mr. Amorim came and won two and that proves his work has been good. Now, if he will be able to do the same in England or Spain or anywhere else? We'll never know until he gets there but I'm sure that Mr. Amorim qualities are there in everyone's eyes."

How might Manchester United line up if everyone is healthy?

Is Amorim a good fit for Manchester United?

While it's been proved time and again that bringing in a new manager offers no guarantees, there are plenty of signs that point to this being a highly intriguing appointment for a club in dramatic decline.

The most obvious topic is whether Amorim's 3-4-3 formation is the immediate remedy to produce short-term results for Man United. While he might find himself short of ball-playing centre-backs (though having 18-year-old Leny Yoro back to fitness, estimated to return around Nov. 24, should help), the picture is not too grim with Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martínez, Victor Lindelöf, Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans.

The United stars who might suffer most are classic wingers Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo. But Amorim has used players like this before to great effect and with an improved work-rate and willingness to track back, a wing-back role might work for them, or they could be moved inside. Meanwhile, the likes of Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui could thrive in a more advanced wing-back position.

Whether Amorim can get 15-20 goals from Manchester United's centre-forwards (Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Højlund) is another question, but he needs to implement more structured attacking patterns than what has come before and teach them how to collectively break down low blocks. Though his floating double No. 10 roles could suit the likes of Fernandes, Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen, with Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo as the midfield pivot behind them.

Plus, could a Portuguese speaker with such a positive mindset help get the best out of the struggling Casemiro and Antony? The former could work well in the double pivot; the latter may be more productive as a "False No. 10" -- but that may be a stretch.

Perhaps the most immediate challenge is to bring positivity and new energy to a club that have been a permanent building site for a decade.

Though the United fans have proved extremely patient, Amorim will know that talk of transition periods, solid work at academy level, culture building and "trusting the process" won't suffice. The new manager has some outstanding skills and that should offer them some hope for the future. -- Karlsen

Why didn't Amorim end up at Barca/Liverpool?

Liverpool's interest in Amorim during their search for a successor to Jurgen Klopp last season intensified following Xabi Alonso's announcement that he'd be staying with Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen this season. With Alonso out of the running, Liverpool shifted their focus to Amorim and Arne Slot, who was then in charge of Feyenoord.

Amorim's 3-4-3 philosophy was not regarded as a deal-breaker by the Liverpool hierarchy, who were impressed by the 39-year-old during discussions, but sources close to negotiations told ESPN that a close race between Amorim and Slot was settled in the Dutchman's favour when Liverpool became aware of Amorim assessing options at other clubs. Club sources have said that Amorim's public flirtation with West Ham, when he flew to London to speak to the club, was regarded by Liverpool as a play to put them under pressure to accelerate a deal and agree to a pay structure beyond what they had budgeted for. As a consequence, Liverpool moved instead to hire Slot.

Barcelona also had Amorim high on their list of Xavi replacements at the end of the 2023-24 season, but a combination of his release clause at Sporting and the potential cost of reshaping the club's squad to suit Amorim's tactical approach led Barca to hire former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick instead.

And although Amorim held face-to-face discussions with West Ham, who were planning to part company with David Moyes, the coach quickly made it clear that he would not be moving to the London Stadium and instead said he would stay at Sporting for at least one more season. -- Ogden

Was Amorim ever on Man City's radar as a Guardiola replacement?

Manchester City have insisted this week that Amorim was not lined up to replace Pep Guardiola, citing the coach's tactical approach as one significant reason for their lack of interest. Also, perhaps more importantly, Guardiola is still in charge and the club hope to extend his stay beyond the expiration of his contract next summer.

Ultimately, the Amorim connection with City was rooted in the Premier League champions' hiring of Hugo Viana as replacement for Txiki Begiristain, who will step down from his post at director of football at the Etihad at the end of this season. Viana, who spent four years in England as a forward with Newcastle United between 2002-06, has been director of football at Sporting since 2018 and he hired Amorim from Braga in 2020. The 41-year-old has also been credited with developing Sporting's highly regarded scouting network which has seen them sign and develop players such as Gyokeres, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes and Ugarte, who signed for United this summer, a year after leaving Sporting for Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite his close connection with Viana, Amorim will not be heading to City. Instead, he has chosen to take his next step in the red half of Manchester with United. -- Ogden

- - Tor-Kristian Karlsen and Mark Ogden

VAN NISTELROOY WOULD STAY AT MANCHESTER UNITED 'IN ANY CAPACITY '

Ruud van Nistelrooy said he is ready to stay at Manchester United "in any capacity" whenever a new manager is appointed after overseeing a 5-2 Carabao Cup win against Leicester City at Old Trafford in his first game as interim head coach following Monday's dismissal of manager Erik ten Hag.

United are continuing to negotiate with Sporting CP for the release of head coach Ruben Amorim after agreeing to pay the 39-year-old's €10 million ($10.8 million) clause to replace Ten Hag.

However, sources have told ESPN that although United are "getting there" in their efforts to seal a deal for Amorim, the terms of his contract with the Portuguese champions could see his arrival at Old Trafford delayed until the start of the next international break on Nov 11.

Such a delay to Amorim's arrival at United would likely see Van Nistelrooy remain in interim charge for the Premier League games against Chelsea (Nov. 3) and Leicester City (Nov. 10) as well as the Europa League tie against PAOK Thessaloniki at Old Trafford on Nov. 7.

Having been hired by United as assistant manager to Ten Hag in the summer, Van Nistelrooy's time at the club where he spent five years as a player could yet be short, but he said after the Leicester game that he will stay as long as he is wanted.

"Of course," Van Nistelrooy told Sky Sports. "I came here as an assistant to help the club. Now in this role, I'm helping as long as needed.

Man United interim coach Ruud Van Nistelrooy celebrates after his team scoring a goal against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup. Getty Images

"In the future in any capacity, I'm here to help the club further to build towards the future that's what I'm here for.

"To go back to yesterday [Tuesday], of course receiving the players and getting together for the first day after Erik [ten Hag] had to leave was a sad day to share. Mixed emotions.

"He was the one that asked me to work back here again, and in the first conversation we had I felt such a passion and care for this football club. That is why I was so sad to see him go.

"Having said that, football and life continues, and we knew that 75,000 people would be waiting for us here today, with millions more watching at home behind their screens and radios and you have to switch then as players.

"We tried to switch that button for the players, try to get the mindset going and go out tonight and give everything for the fans."

United sealed a Carabao Cup quarterfinal tie away to Tottenham Hotspur with the win against Leicester, but they remain in 14th position in the Premier League table. Results and performances must improve quickly for United to salvage their season, and Van Nistelrooy said that his only job now is to ensure that the team continues on an upwards curve.

"It is clear that this is going to be short term, so for me today was the most important day after what happened," he said. "In such short notice we had to have things getting going and get into the quarterfinals.

"Credit to the players, they were fantastic today.

"For now, the focus is on Chelsea on Sunday, and I do not really look any further."

- Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY: 'MIXED EMOTIONS' FOR MAN UNITED JOB

Manchester United's interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has admitted he has "mixed emotions" ahead of his first game in charge of the club after the sacking of Erik ten Hag.

Van Nistelrooy, a club legend who scored 150 goals in five seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson during his playing career, will take the reins for the first tome on Wednesday as United host Leicester City in the Carabao Cup round of 16.

"As I am sure everyone can imagine, I am writing these notes with a huge amount of mixed emotions," Van Nistelrooy said in the programme for the cup fixture.

"Erik ten Hag brought me back to Manchester United in the summer and, while I have only been part of the coaching staff here for a few months, I will always be grateful to him for giving me the opportunity, and I am saddened to see him leave.

"Even on an interim basis, it is a great honour to manage the club I love for however long I am asked to do so. I can promise that I will continue to give my all, in whatever capacity, to try to turn around our fortunes.

"Despite our results, I am loving being back at Old Trafford and working with the team and staff every day. We've seen the squad's potential at times this season, but clearly not often enough."

Van Nistelrooy added that he feels United can return to the upper echelons of world football and called for the fans to back his team as a new era begins.

Ruud van Nistelrooy sat alongside Erik ten Hag as Man United were beaten at West Ham on Sunday. Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

"Now is the time for everyone at the club to work together, give everything and turn this season around while we have time. From my experiences as both a player and a coach here, I can say for sure that when players, staff and supporters pull together, Manchester United can be unstoppable," he said.

How long the Dutch coach will remain in charge is as yet unknown, as United are engaged in talks with Sporting CP over their head coach Rúben Amorim.

The deal moved closer earlier on Tuesday with the Portuguese club informing the country's financial regulator that United had confirmed their willingness to pay Amorim's €10 million ($10.79m) release clause.

Sources have told ESPN that United are determined to seal a deal for the highly rated coach to replace Erik ten Hag before Sunday's Premier League clash against Chelsea.

United are aware of other complicating issues such as a mandatory notice period, sources told ESPN, but remain confident an agreement can be reached.

Information from ESPN's Mark Ogden contributed to this report.

- ESPN

RÚBEN AMORIM SAYS NO MAN UNITED DEAL YET AS SPORTING CONFIRM INTEREST

Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim has acknowledged Manchester United's interest in making him the Premier League club's new manager but insisted he had not yet decided whether to make the move to Old Trafford.

The deal moved closer earlier on Tuesday with the Portuguese club informing the country's financial regulator that United had confirmed their willingness to pay Amorim's €10 million ($10.79m) release clause.

Sources have told ESPN that United are determined to seal a deal for the highly-rated coach to replace Erik ten Hag before Sunday's Premier League clash against Chelsea.

Speaking after his team's 3-1 win against Nacional in the Taca da Liga on Tuesday night, Amorim would not be drawn on whether Sporting's Primeira Liga game against Estreia Armadora on Friday would be his last with the club.

"There was the club's statement and it's the only thing that exists at the moment," he said. "There is an interest from Manchester United. But it has to be my choice. Until everything is decided, we won't be creating noise. I have nothing to say. I will take on whatever I want to do, as I always have.

"There is a club that is interested and has contacted the club and is willing to pay the release clause. That I cannot control. We will see what happens in the next few days. My focus tomorrow is to prepare for Friday's game against Estreia Armadora.

"Nobody knows if it's a farewell game, if there will be a farewell game, it's something that hasn't been decided yet, so let's analyze the game. Once I have made a decision I will come out and explain my decision. But everything has to be defined.

"As the club statement said, it will be my decision. But saying half things now doesn't seem the best thing."

Asked how good his English is, Amorim replied: "It's rudimentary."

Ruben Amorim has been head coach of Sporting CP since March 2020. David Martins/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Due to their listing on the stock market, Portuguese champions Sporting have an obligation to inform the CMVM -- Portugal's financial regulator -- of any significant impact on the club's business and they released a statement outlining United's offer for Amorim.

The statement to the CMVM said: "Sporting comes, under the terms and for the purpose of fulfilling the information obligation arising from the provisions of Article 17.º of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014, of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 16, inform the market in the following terms: "1. Manchester United FC expressed interest in hiring coach Rúben Amorim, and the Board of Directors of Sporting SAD referred to the terms and conditions provided for in the employment contract in force between the Company and the coach, specifically for the respective termination clause and for the amount of Euro 10,000,000.00;

"2. Manchester United FC expressed interest in paying Sporting SAD the amount of said clause."

Ruud van Nistelrooy, hired as assistant manager to Ten Hag during the summer, has been named as interim head coach by United until a permanent appointment is made and the former United and Real Madrid forward will be in charge for the Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City on Wednesday at Old Trafford.

However, it is likely that the Leicester game will be Van Nistelrooy's only fixture in charge if talks with Sporting and Amorim continue to move at pace.

Ten Hag was sacked on Tuesday following Man United's 2-1 loss to West Ham that left them 14th in the Premier League.

Amorim has guided Sporting to two league titles since arriving at the club from Braga in 2020. Prior to Amorim's appointment, Sporting had endured a 19-year wait to end their title drought.

The former Portugal midfielder was considered by Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and West Ham for their vacant managerial roles last season before committing his future to Sporting at the end of last season.

However, reports in Portugal have said that Sporting are now preparing for Amorim's departure this week by lining up the club's B-team coach João Pereira to take charge for the rest of the season.

Amorim has drawn praise for his time at Sporting from United captain Bruno Fernandes.

"Since coach Amorim arrived to Sporting they became one of the teams that play better and most consistent football. I think the signings have been right, and they are in a very good moment. They've won last year and this season have started leading in the standings. It's a very well-prepared team," he said at a news conference with Portugal earlier this month.

"Regarding Mr. Amorim, I spoke about him several times and I said that at this moment he is well prepared because it is not easy to win titles at Sporting. Sporting was 20 years without winning trophies. Mr. Amorim came and won two and that proves his work has been good.

"Now, if he will be able to do the same in England or Spain or anywhere else? We'll never know until he gets there but I'm sure that Mr. Amorim qualities are there in everyone's eyes."

Information from ESPN's Adriana Garcia contributed to this report.

- Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

WHY TEN HAG FAILED AT MANCHESTER UNITED

Erik ten Hag craved control at Manchester United but it meant that, with problems piling up, there was nowhere to hide. In the end, his fingerprints were all over too much of the failure -- there were no excuses left -- and Sunday's 2-1 defeat at West Ham United proved to be his final act as manager.

Ten Hag did it his way, accommodated by the club at almost every turn, but still couldn't make it work. On a preseason trip to Oslo in the summer of 2023, he complained to club staff that the grass at the Ullevaal Stadion was longer than had been agreed. He was told that rain in the Norwegian capital overnight led to unexpected growth, and it was just one of those things; Ten Hag replied that it wasn't good enough.

The Dutchman enjoyed a lot of control while at Man United. He dictated details from the length of the grass to aid quicker passing to the layout of Old Trafford. Early on in his reign, Ten Hag was allowed to redesign a group video analysis room at Carrington -- complete with a huge screen, tiered flooring and interior decoration featuring images of United fans -- at a cost of more than £200,000. Yet his changes weren't restricted to the facilities.

Ten Hag changed the way players prepared for games, asking them to arrive four hours early for matches at Old Trafford in their own cars rather than spending the night before at a Manchester hotel and arriving together on a coach. He repurposed a large hospitality suite and turned it into a prematch room for his squad. He moved the lockers in the dressing room so the defenders sat to his left, and the midfielders and forwards sat to his right, when he stood in front of his tactics board.

At Old Trafford, Ten Hag insisted on switching the benches around to be nearer the tunnel, even though it meant his technical area would then straddle the halfway line, which, in his opinion, would give him a better view of the game. He was told it would cost money to make the change because the home benches are heated and the away benches are not, but Ten Hag put his foot down and got his way. He often did.

United knew what they were getting when they hired him from Ajax Amsterdam in the summer of 2022. Club bosses were told a story that when he first arrived at Ajax in December 2017, he continued to use a suitcase embroidered with the branding of his former club, FC Utrecht. He was told it was perhaps not the best look for the Ajax manager to be carrying Utrecht merchandise, but he liked the bag and used it anyway. Ajax bosses told their United counterparts that it showed "Ten Hag's stubbornness in a nutshell."

Ten Hag was the same at Old Trafford, but with so much control came ultimate responsibility for performances and results that were eventually deemed unacceptable. After a little over two years, four months in charge, Ten Hag was sacked on Monday after a run of just four wins from 13 matches in all competitions to start the 2024-25 season. Languishing at 14th in the table -- as close to the relegation places as the top four -- United were on course to place even lower than last season's worst-ever Premier League finish.

Ten Hag leaves with a record of 70 wins and 35 defeats in 128 games. The signs of discord have been there for a while and even though United sources insist Ten Hag has conducted himself with professionalism and dignity throughout his time at Old Trafford, his departure is no surprise.

Conflict with players from Ronaldo to Sancho

After completing the purchase of a 27.7% stake in the club early in 2024, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team were initially sympathetic to the issues faced by Ten Hag, but increasingly found that many of the problems pointed back to the manager.

Ten Hag survived their extensive end-of-season review largely because of the surprise FA Cup success over Manchester City on May 25, and because agreements couldn't be reached with other candidates including Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino. That victory was such a shock that a postmatch party had to be hastily arranged with no prior planning.

Ten Hag's contract was soon extended by a year after, but there was a feeling within the Ineos hierarchy even then that a change might be necessary if the form that saw them finish eighth in the Premier League last season -- United's lowest-ever finish in the league's 31-year history -- didn't drastically improve during the early part of the new campaign.

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake also arrived in a summer revamp of Ten Hag's coaching staff. Ten Hag had a previous relationship with Hake, but not with Van Nistelrooy, and it prompted some players to speculate that the former Netherlands international, who spent a year in charge of PSV Eindhoven between 2022 and 2023, would be a ready-made replacement if Ten Hag was sacked; exactly what ended up happening when Van Nistelrooy was appointed as caretaker manager on Monday.

It was telling that CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth -- hired in by Ratcliffe and Ineos to revamp the club's footballing structure -- both distanced themselves from the decision to keep Ten Hag by making it known privately that they weren't involved in the conversations because they had not officially started in their new roles in July. It gave their public backing of Ten Hag in early September a hollow feel.

Ten Hag's time in charge ultimately delivered two trophies in two years, but it was never easy.

After beginning his reign with defeats to Brighton and Brentford in August 2022, sources told ESPN there were early complaints from some players that Ten Hag struggled to communicate, and concerns that instructions were being lost in translation leading to confusion on the pitch. Following the 4-0 defeat to Brentford, one player told close friends that Ten Hag didn't know how to motivate, with players often finding him difficult to read. He could be jolly one day, and extremely serious the next. One source described Ten Hag as "too strict."

His disciplinarian approach was initially welcomed by senior players who believed standards had slipped under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, but some of his rules would cause additional issues.

Most players agreed that Cristiano Ronaldo was in the wrong when he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham in October 2022 but, after seemingly winning the battle of wills initially, sources told ESPN many within the club soon started to think Ten Hag had taken the punishment too far.

Ronaldo was initially ordered to train away from the first team, but when he tried to enter the dressing room and retrieve a pair of his trainers, he was told by staff he wasn't allowed in. The stand-off ended only when Ronaldo enlisted an academy player to go into the dressing room for him, with a number of senior players viewing the blanket ban as an unnecessary humiliation.

The fallout with Ronaldo was seismic, but although the Portugal legend's departure from Old Trafford during the break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup was relatively clean, a similar situation with Jadon Sancho was not.

Sancho was a high-profile and highly coveted signing when announced on July 1, 2021. His arrival, fresh off the back of four brilliant years at Borussia Dortmund, was seen as a coup for United in the face of interest from other top clubs, but things quickly devolved after a promising start.

A public fallout between the England international and Ten Hag was followed by four months of Sancho being made to train, eat and change on his own. A number of players tried to encourage Sancho to apologise, but the longer the situation went on, the more players began to believe that -- again -- Ten Hag had taken things too far. Sources have told ESPN that Ten Hag wanted Sancho to say sorry publicly because the player had made the conflict public on social media, but sources tell ESPN that some players viewed the demand as an unnecessary humiliation.

The Sancho situation increasingly became an embarrassment. As Sancho -- sent on loan to former club Dortmund in January 2024 -- was tearing holes in Paris Saint-Germain during the Champions League semifinal first leg in April, United representatives sent messages to high-profile pundits telling them to stop talking up the forward's contribution because it reflected badly on the club.

With no one willing to match Sancho's valuation over the summer, Ten Hag was convinced to allow him back into first-team training. He remained reluctant throughout the uneasy truce, feeling that it could be viewed as a loss of his authority. Eventually Sancho joined Chelsea in a cut-price loan deal on Deadline Day in August 2024.

Players question his training methods as injuries mount

Sancho was one of a number of issues Ten Hag faced during a particularly difficult second season. Injuries were a problem, and not just the volume of them: United had to deal with 45 separate cases during that campaign.

Players questioned the intensity of some of the training sessions and were often left thinking they would benefit from more individually tailored programmes. One senior player put his injury problems down to being asked to train in the same way as much younger squad members, believing instead that he should be allowed longer to recover after games.

Sources have told ESPN that Ten Hag would use extra training as a response to poor results and performances, which many players found counterproductive. They would feel tired ahead of the next game, lose, and then be given more extra training. Ten Hag's answer was always that Premier League football is intense, so training must be the same.

Towards the end of last season, Ten Hag was cutting an increasingly isolated figure. Members of his own staff began to question why the team was being set up in the same way despite often conceding 20 or more shots. Players, too, began to feel the team was "too open."

Ten Hag never lost the entire dressing room in the way Jose Mourinho did before he was sacked but, over time, more and more individuals began to develop their own gripes. Ratcliffe's right-hand man at Ineos, Sir Dave Brailsford, held one-on-one meetings with the squad in February and again in April. There was an overriding feeling that support for the manager within the dressing room had dipped significantly during the intervening two months.

Ten Hag put his case forward to Ratcliffe and Brailsford, insisting that "no team in the world" could have coped with the amount of injuries Man United had suffered. He pointed to his promotion of youngsters Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, and voiced his frustration that the club had missed out on signing stars like Frenkie de Jong (who stayed at Barcelona), Alexis Mac Allister (who joined Liverpool), Federico Valverde (who remained at Real Madrid) and Harry Kane (who went to Bayern Munich).

Sources have told ESPN that Ineos was told during conversations with the recruitment team that many of Ten Hag's transfer demands were "unrealistic."

Tension over recruitment and transfer policies

Recruitment was a contentious issue throughout Ten Hag's time at Old Trafford. His demand for control over transfers saw United terminate their collaboration with Rangnick, who had agreed a two-year deal to act as a consultant. When Ten Hag took over in the summer of 2022, Rangnick expected to meet face-to-face for a detailed meeting about the state of the squad only to discover the new United manager was willing to only grant him a phone call.

One player Ten Hag did get was Antony. Having worked together at Ajax, Ten Hag was the driving force behind signing the Brazilian winger, but the transfer has been an unmitigated disaster. During talks with Ineos, Ten Hag said that, while he wanted Antony, it was not his fault that the fee had risen to more than £85 million when he was available for a much lower price earlier in the summer of 2022. A source has told ESPN that Ajax could not believe the offer United eventually made because it was so far above his market value, while other sources note that signing Antony and Casemiro was partly driven by the panic caused by those early defeats to Brighton and Brentford.

There was further tension in recruitment meetings following the Ineos takeover, with Brailsford keen to stress that responsibility for signings would ultimately be handed to Ashworth and technical director, Jason Wilcox.

Ten Hag at first struggled to build a working relationship with Wilcox, dismissing him as somebody who lacked the credentials for his job, having previously run Man City's academy set-up and then a year as Southampton director of football. Things improved following talks over the summer, but Ten Hag was still reluctant to give up control, arguing that he had been granted a transfer veto in his contract. Sources have told ESPN that Ineos was not impressed with his record in the market.

Ten Hag insisted that he hadn't pushed for every transfer made under his watch and instead was forced to accept certain players because positions had to be filled. He wanted Kane -- an experienced goal scorer -- when the club was looking for a striker in the summer of 2023 and instead got Rasmus Højlund, a young player with vast potential but very much a work in progress.

Furthermore, Ten Hag was exasperated by the club's financial situation and viewed both January transfer windows during his reign as missed opportunities. He was allowed to only sign Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer on short-term loans in January 2023, and his request for a striker in January 2024 to help ease the burden on Hojlund was turned down.

According to a source, Ten Hag insisted that he had to sign Antony, Lisandro Martínez and Casemiro in part because they were strong characters who were vital to deal with a dressing room that was in a mess post-Rangnick. Antony and Martinez demanded Ajax let them go -- Martinez at one point argued directly with an Ajax official over a move to United -- which impressed Ten Hag and football director John Murtough.

Martinez, a staunch Ten Hag supporter, was missed in the dressing room and on the training pitch during a long injury layoff between September 2023 and January 2024. The Argentinian was encouraged to spend more time around the squad during a particularly poor run of form in December 2023, when staff reported back to Ten Hag that he was close to losing the support of some influential senior players.

Defenders Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs De Ligt and arrived from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024, but the United hierarchy was initially unconvinced as to why the club needed the latter player, having just signed Leny Yoro to a long-term deal. Mazraoui was seen as a straight replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who ultimately joined West Ham, while De Ligt was felt to be decent value and added more depth at a problem position. After discussions with Ten Hag, they sanctioned it due to the low costs involved.

Ten Hag did his best to manage the squad with an emphasis on individual meetings but, privately, he accepted it was a step up from what he had known at Ajax and found United players were almost "businesses" in their own right with huge entourages around them, all with their own opinions. On one occasion, a request made by a player's PR representative for more exposure on the club's social media channels ended up on his desk.

Ten Hag, according to sources, made a conscious effort to avoid criticising individuals in the media for fear that it would do more harm than good. After almost capitulating to Championship side to Coventry City in the FA Cup semifinal in April, he kept the players in the Wembley dressing room for so long that by the time they came out, the Coventry players were lined up waiting to swap shirts. But in his news conference immediately afterward, he decided to shield his squad, instead focusing on the fact United had won the game on penalties to reach a second successive FA Cup final.

Some staff felt Ten Hag protected his players too much and instead inadvertently made himself a lightning rod for criticism. Ten Hag, though, believed that many players didn't respond well to public criticism and that it was important to keep the dressing room behind him as best he could. He repeatedly backed Marcus Rashford despite concerns about his body language during training and games.

Ten Hag wanted to stay in control, even if it increased an already massive workload. He picked the squad numbers for new signings -- it was his decision to hand Mason Mount the No. 7 shirt rather than to Garnacho -- and wanted to know what media commitments players had, why they were doing it and whether or not they were contractually obliged.

When club staff were worried Ten Hag was being asked to hold too many news conferences, they suggested former assistant Steve McClaren could take over before a Carabao Cup tie. Ten Hag declined, insisting the "message" always had to come from him. According to a source, a request made by a TV company to speak to Van Nistelrooy in August was turned down on Ten Hag's say-so.

On one occasion Ten Hag cancelled his own interview with Robin van Persie, who had flown to Manchester to conduct it, because it clashed with his training schedule. Nothing got in the way of his work -- something acknowledged by Ratcliffe and Brailsford -- but it wasn't enough to save him after a disastrous end to his second season and miserable start to his third.

In the end, too many bad results

Ten Hag is one of only four managers in United's history to win trophies in consecutive seasons alongside Ernest Mangnall, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson, but winning the FA Cup was achieved against a backdrop of United's worst league season for 34 years.

When Ratcliffe and Ineos began the process of investing in United in November 2022, they had no intention of sacking Ten Hag. Even early this year, their feeling was that the structure at the club was wrong and that any manager would struggle to perform. But after finally formalising their agreement to buy a minority stake in February, setbacks on the pitch came thick and fast.

The 2-1 defeat to Fulham at Old Trafford on Feb. 24 was considered a watershed moment. Ten Hag called the squad into Carrington the following day and made them watch a replay of the game in full before going out to train.

Six weeks later, Ratcliffe was in the stands at Stamford Bridge as United conceded twice in stoppage time to lose 4-3 to a Chelsea team that was also in a state of flux. Sources have told ESPN that Ratcliffe made his frustration with the performance well-known both during and after the game. Ratcliffe was in the stands again at Wembley as United threw away the three-goal lead against Coventry, and it was followed two weeks later by the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.

Ten Hag had started to seriously fear that he was not in Ratcliffe's long-term plans in March when he was informed that assistant Benni McCarthy -- a key member of staff in his first two years -- had not been approached about signing a new contract. Chelsea's surprise decision to part company with Pochettino in late May prompted concerns among United's new leadership team that they had to act quickly because both clubs would be picking from the same pool of managers.

It led to discussions with potential candidates in the week leading up to the FA Cup final, a situation considered so humiliating that close friends advised Ten Hag to quit.

Sat in the Wembley news conference theatre after beating Man City, Ten Hag was defiant saying that if Ratcliffe and the new co-owners "don't want me, then I go somewhere else to win trophies because that is what I do."

In the same room in February 2023, he walked into his news conference carrying the Carabao Cup -- United's first trophy for six years -- and nearly left it on the desk before joking that he was "already thinking about the next one." After two in two years, he won't get the chance to make it three in three.

The surprise victory over City in the FA Cup final was enough to keep him in a job for another six months, but the goodwill built up after that day at Wembley eventually eroded. Their 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in September caused renewed worry among United's leadership that Ten Hag may not be able to turn things around.

After that, United's 3-0 defeat to Tottenham a month later was another nail in his coffin. A source has told ESPN that after Bruno Fernandes had been sent off late in the first half, the players were unsure what Ten Hag's plan was as they emerged for the second 45 minutes and conceded just two minutes into the half.

Serious consideration was given to sacking Ten Hag during the October international break and, despite beating Brentford when domestic fixtures resumed, the 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday was the tipping point. The final decision was made on Sunday night, and Ashworth and Berrada were waiting at Carrington early on Monday morning to deliver the news.

With Van Nistelrooy left to prepare for his interim role and a Carabao Cup game against Leicester City on Wednesday, Ten Hag was driven out of Carrington for the last time and on Monday afternoon arrived at Manchester airport to fly home to the Netherlands.

United handed Ten Hag the keys to Old Trafford when he arrived. Two years on, he's been told to give them back.

Additional reporting by Mark Ogden.

- Rob Dawson, Correspondent

ERIK TEN HAG MEME

 

MAN UNITED SACK ERIK TEN HAG; RUUD VAN NISTELROOY INTERIM

Erik ten Hag has been sacked as Manchester United manager following Sunday's 2-1 Premier League defeat against West Ham United, the club announced on Monday.

Ten Hag, who had his contract extended in the summer, has been dismissed following a run of just four wins from 13 games to start the new season.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over on an interim basis and is set to be in charge for the Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Sources have told ESPN that United bosses made the decision to sack Ten Hag after losing faith that the Dutchman would be able to turn things around after a poor start to the new campaign. After earning just 11 points from nine league games, there are already concerns that United are too far adrift to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Results and performances in the Premier League at the end of last season were also taken into account.

United finished eighth in the table last season and are languishing in 14th after defeat at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Ten Hag was kept on in the summer after leading United to a surprise 2-1 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

The decision followed an extensive end-of-season review during which club bosses, including new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, held talks with a number of different candidates.

But despite conversations with potential replacements, Ratcliffe and his INEOS team decided to keep Ten Hag in his job and extend his contract until June 2026. Van Nistelrooy, who played for United between 2002 and 2006, arrived as part of a revamped backroom staff along with former Go Ahead Eagles manager Rene Hake.

Erik ten Hag's last game in charge at Man United was Sunday's defeat to West Ham. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Hake is set to stay at Old Trafford to support Van Nistelrooy in his caretaker role. Van Nistelrooy has a year of managerial experience with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. He left his role in 2023 after leading PSV to success in the Dutch cup.

Sources have told ESPN that United have already started to assess options for their next permanent manager. Thomas Tuchel was a leading candidate in the summer but the former Bayern Munich boss has since agreed to take over as England manager.

Ratcliffe, INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford and sporting director Dan Ashworth are all admirers of former England manager Gareth Southgate, although he has said he does not want to return to coaching until next summer.

- Rob Dawson, Correspondent

BREAKING NEWS: MANCHESTER UNITED SACK ERIK TEN HAG

Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag following two and a half years in charge of the club.

The Dutchman was informed of the decision by the club's board on Monday morning, fewer than 24 hours after the club's defeat by West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined the club as Ten Hag's assistant last summer, has been named as interim manager.

United's 2-1 defeat at West Ham left the club 14th in the Premier League with just three wins from their opening nine matches, while they are 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League table.

- BBC

SIR ALEX FERGUSON IS MANCHESTER UNITED | ERIK TEN HAG

 

ERIK TEN HAG: MAN UNITED WILL BE IMPACTED BY SIR ALEX FERGUSON EXIT

Erik ten Hag hopes to still be able to count upon the advice of Sir Alex Ferguson. Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Erik ten Hag has admitted that the end of Sir Alex Ferguson's employment at Manchester United will "impact" the club, but insists the former manager will still be available to offer advice to players and staff.

United have decided to axe Ferguson's role as ambassador as part of wider cost-cutting measures. The 82-year-old has been earning around £2 million-a-year since stepping down as manager in 2013.

"Of course it has an impact on us, Sir Alex is Man United," Ten Hag told a news conference on Friday.

"He built Man United to where the club is now, it impacts us. But on the other side also we know and Sir Alex knows and he wants to see a winning Man United, I'm sure he's always available for every advice and we will need him definitely in the short term as we did in the last two and a half years I am here."

Ferguson enjoyed unprecedented success at Old Trafford, winning 13 Premier League titles and the Champions League twice in 27 years at the helm.

He remains the last United manager to win the title and since his departure more than 10 years ago, the club have slipped from the top of English football.

"At the moment we can't match the standards he [Ferguson] set but still we won trophies," said Ten Hag.

"Remember, six years before this club didn't win trophies so we are coming back, we are returning.

"But it is also obvious that we are not there but it is very important we need all the processes right and that we can construct a team that we can line up the best players to construct the best teams."

United face Brentford at Old Trafford on Saturday looking to end a run of five games without a win.

Ten Hag's team won the same fixture last season thanks to two late goals from Scott McTominay, who has since moved to Napoli. The midfielder has been winning fans with his performances in Italy and Ten Hag says the club would have never sanctioned his departure had it not been for the Profit and Sustainability Rules that encourage transferring academy graduates.

"I'm very happy for Scott," said Ten Hag.

"As I said when he left I didn't want this but that's the rules the club had to deal with the fair play rules and the rules are not great. The rules, I would even say are bad, but that's the situation that's created by the rules and forced us to make this decision."

- Rob Dawson, Correspondent

ANDY COLE ON ERIK TEN HAG

 

ERIK TEN HAG MEME | MARKETING AT ITS BEST 😄

 

GARY NEVILLE: MANCHESTER UNITED'S DRAW HAS BOUGHT TIME FOR ERIK TEN HAG

ERIK TEN HAG'S MAN UNITED FUTURE 'NOT MY CALL' - JIM RATCLIFFE

Sir Jim Ratcliffe (R) has said Erik ten Hag's future is not his decision. Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has refused to give assurances to under-fire manager Erik ten Hag and insisted a decision on the Dutchman's future is out of his hands.

Ten Hag is under pressure after a run of four games without a win and faces a crunch fixture against Aston Villa on Sunday but Ratcliffe, who is expected to be in attendance at Villa Park, said it will not be his call if the club decide to make a change 

Asked by the BBC in Barcelona whether he still has faith in Ten Hag, Ratcliffe said: "I don't want to answer that question. I like Erik. I think he's a very good coach but at the end of the day it's not my call, it's the management team that's running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects."

United have revamped their structure since Ratcliffe acquired a 27.7% stake in the club in February.

Omar Berrada has been appointed CEO while Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox have come in as sporting director and technical director, respectively.

Ten Hag's contract was extended by a year in the summer, although both Berrada and Ashworth have publicly distanced themselves from the decision because it was made before they were officially in their new roles.

"That team that's running Manchester United has only been together since June or July," Ratcliffe said.

"They weren't there in January, February, March or April. Omar, Dan Ashworth, they only arrived in July.

"They've only been there -- you can count it in weeks almost -- they've not been there a long time so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions.

"Our objective is very clear; we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it's not there yet, obviously. That's very clear."

- Rob Dawson, Correspondent

ERIK TEN HAG: MAN UTD NEED TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST PORTO

 

Erik ten Hag has come under pressure following Manchester United's dismal start to the season. Getty

PORTO, Portugal -- Erik ten Hag has insisted he retains the faith of Manchester United's leadership, but admitted his players must show a reaction to the defeat to Tottenham when they play FC Porto.

Ten Hag has come under severe pressure following the chastening 3-0 defeat to Spurs on Sunday.

The Dutchman has revealed he's held conversations with the club's leadership team since the result, which left United 13th in the Premier League table.

He will lead his team in their Europa League tie against Porto at Estadio do Dragao on Thursday and admitted his players must bounce back quickly to brighten the mood around the club.

"We talk every day," Ten Hag told a news conference on Wednesday. "It's a long-term project. It's a long-term union. We will keep going in that process. We will talk every day. Every day we will evaluate, review the process and where it's necessary, we will make our decisions.

"As always when we are not winning, we are very disappointed and we are also mad, mad with ourselves and especially when you lose a game like Sunday.

"We are mad and from the madness we have to get motivation and go onto the next game."

CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth both publicly backed Ten Hag before the defeat to Liverpool in early September.

Sources have told ESPN that despite the run of poor form, the club intend to stick with the 54-year-old until at least after Sunday's trip to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Ten Hag was asked whether United's leadership had privately offered a vote of confidence since the defeat to Tottenham, but the former Ajax coach told reporters it was not needed.

"It's not necessary to give me confidence," he said.

"We talk every day about how we can improve this club and this team. How we can co-operate, how can we improve the processes; that is what we are talking about."

While Porto warmed up for United with a 4-0 win over Arouca Sunday, Ten Hag's team are on a three-match winless run. But Porto coach Vitor Bruno is adamant it's not a good time to play their Premier League visitors.

"I know what you mean, talking about the last match," Bruno said. "But no, not at all. Exactly the opposite. We always see them as a threat. I've heard a lot of people saying that he was coming with a rope around his neck but it would be a huge mistake [to underestimate them]. We are talking about world-class players."

Kobbie Mainoo is set to be available to face Porto despite limping off during the first half against Spurs. The England midfielder trained at Carrington on Wednesday morning, but Mason Mount was absent after suffering a head injury against Tottenham.

United's trip to Portugal on Wednesday afternoon was delayed because of fog in Porto leading to Ten Hag's news conference being delayed for more than two hours.

- Rob Dawson, Correspondent