Manchester United’s head coach Erik ten Hag, front, and Aston Villa’s head coach Unai Emery react during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester United, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
For Erik ten Hag, it’s very simple.
“We are all on board, together, on one page,” the Manchester United manager said of his relationship with the club’s leadership after a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
The next few days will determine whether those above Ten Hag feel the same.
READ: Man United players ‘mad’ about Tottenham loss, says Ten Hag
United heads into the two-week international break on a five-match winless run in all competitions and languishing in 14th place in the league, having won just two of its opening seven games this campaign.
Ten Hag had arrived at Villa Park under huge pressure and with the club’s minority owner, Jim Ratcliffe, having failed to say he had faith in the Dutch coach when asked specifically on Friday.
However creditable gaining a point at a revitalized Villa is, it might still not be enough for Ten Hag — especially with United’s new leadership having some time to weigh up his future before the team’s next game.
“We know what we are working toward — it is a long-term project and we have to keep improving the process,” Ten Hag said.
Playing in front of Ratcliffe and the rest of United’s hierarchy, the visitors came closest to scoring when Bruno Fernandes struck a free kick against the crossbar in the 68th.
READ: Man United fans leave early, boo players after 3-0 loss to Tottenham
As a whole, Villa mostly dominated a match played four days after beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Still, United dug in, defended well and earned a draw that followed 3-3 at Porto in the Europa League. It marks a decent response to slumping to a chastening 3-0 home loss to Tottenham last weekend.
“We proved in two tough away games that this is a team,” Ten Hag said. “You saw the preparedness, the spirit but also the belief and the faith they have.”