Erik ten Hag’s team suffered another Champions League defeat on Wednesday night (Picture: Getty Images)
Erik ten Hag has the support of a number of Manchester United legends, despite another disappointing defeat in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils were beaten 4-3 at FC Copenhagen this week, leaving them bottom of their Champions League group and qualification for the knockout stages looking unlikely.
The Premier League has not exactly been going swimmingly either, sitting eighth with five defeats in 11 matches so far, so Ten Hag will certainly be feeling the need to improve results very quickly.
Paul Scholes, however, does not think there is too much pressure on the Dutchman, believing a solid first season in charge, and some bad fortune with a string of injuries at the moment, mean he will have time to turn things around.
‘I still don’t feel like there’s that much pressure on Erik ten Hag,’ Scholes told TNT Sports. ‘He had a good year and bought some time. He’s had bad injuries but nine defeats in 17 is not good enough.
‘I know United have sacked before, but I don’t think they can afford to keep doing that.
‘Ten Hag got unlucky tonight [against Copenhagen], but United put up a good fight. They lacked a bit of leadership. It’s not easy to play away in Europe.
‘It’s just that collapsing that’s hurting them. Once they concede one it feels like another is coming. You can’t keep doing that every week.’
Owen Hargreaves agreed, saying: ‘Nine losses in 17 games, they’re not good numbers. But they’ve got to stick by him. Keeping sacking managers is not the solution here.’
Rio Ferdinand also thinks Ten Hag needs more time, but did warn the boss that responsibility for everything that is happening on the pitch ultimately stops with him.
‘I think you have to stick with the manager but it’s a poor result. It’s a really bad result,’ Rio Ferdinand told TNT Sports.
Manchester United threw away 2-0 and 3-2 leads in Denmark (Picture: Getty Images)
Speaking about United’s lack of responsibility and the inability to deal with adversity, Ferdinand said: ‘I think it’s the job of the players, they have to find it themselves, look deep within themselves to get that to really come out.
‘Leaders encourage and cajole and bring the best out in team-mates. We need to see that.
‘But again I think it all stems from the manager. The manager is the guy that leads and steers the ship and it all comes from him.
‘And the buck does stop with him at the end of the day. The players have to take responsibility but the manager will have to too.’