Gary Neville has been speaking to Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and thinks the boss has done something different recently.
Ten Hag has been under pressure this season and despite getting into the FA Cup final, there is talk that the Dutchman could well lose his job this summer.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe now in place at the club, there remains big decisions to be made. And obviously, Ten Hag’s future is one of those decisions.
Of course, a lot has been made of Ten Hag’s demeanour in the media and how he comes out and comments on performances, often, to the confusion of a lot of United fans.
However, recent weeks have seen a more stern Ten Hag in the press. And speaking directly to the United boss, Gary Neville has suggested it’s something he’s noticed recently.
Gary Neville on what Erik ten Hag has done in the press recently
Speaking to Ten Hag in his exclusive interview for Sky Sports, Neville questioned whether the Dutchman had taken a bit of a different stance with the media recently.
“In the last few weeks I have noticed that in the media normally you are quite guarded, you answer the questions but in the last two or three weeks you have been a bit more pro-active, a bit more assertive. Is that approach something you have thought about, that you need to defend your position?,” Neville asked.
Ten Hag replied, “It’s not about me. But I have to protect the team against some unfairness’s. We can accept this, we know the standards, in the first place we are not happy with this season but we know still that we can win a cup this season, so stay positive in that perspective. We have games to go and we feel that players are returning.”
Ten Hag needs backing or sacking
The United manager needs some clarity on his future and he needs it before the summer gets going.
If he is to remain as manager at Old Trafford, then so be it and he needs the backing of the board to ensure he gets the right signings in the summer.
If he’s to be moved on, then that decision needs to come quickly from Ratcliffe and co.
This is yet another massive summer for Manchester United as a whole and getting it right means the pressure is on Ratcliffe, his team, and then Ten Hag to deliver what’s given to him.