Erik ten Hag bullish about his future despite Manchester United losing half of their games this season as under-fire coach insists he retains the faith of Old Trafford hierarchy

Erik ten Hag insists he doesn’t fear for his future as Manchester United manager and still has the backing of the club.

Ten Hag’s future has been thrown into doubt after United lost half of their 24 games this season. 

They were beaten 3-0 at home to Bournemouth last weekend and then went out of Europe in midweek after finishing bottom of their Champions League group.

It could get worse yet for Ten Hag as United head to Anfield on Sunday where the Dutchman was hammered 7-0 by arch-rivals Liverpool on his previous visit in March.

It’s understood that Ten Hag’s job is safe for now as long as begins to turn results around, but the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team poses more of a long-term threat.

United crashed out of the Champions League following a loss to Bayern Munich in midweek

The arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe could pose a more long-term threat for the Dutch coach

Asked about the speculation over his future, he replied: ‘I’m not concerned about that. I want to win. I want to win with my team, to progress the team in the right direction so we are here in a project.

‘I feel that (the club’s backing) and they tell it. But actually that is fine and that is okay but I am focusing on the process, to make this team play better, make the individuals better and that is my concern.

‘Last year we were in the right direction, now we haven’t matched the standards we expect to have. 

‘That’s the truth but still we are in a project. In the long-term definitely because the future for Man United is very good.

‘You can see how many good players we have in the squad, how many good young players who have really high potential to play top levels worldwide, but we have to develop that. 

‘I am sure that when the injuries come back we will perform better.’