Erik ten Hag has expressed that Manchester United are 'mad' about their 3-0 loss to Tottenham on Sunday and must channel that frustration into motivation for their upcoming match against Porto on Thursday. The manager may need a win to secure his position, as United's dismal performance against Spurs has put Ten Hag's job in jeopardy. With the team languishing in 13th place in the Premier League, Ten Hag is urgently seeking a positive response in the Europa League on Thursday.
'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,' Ten Hag stated. 'Also, when you had to play such a long time with 10 players and after the [Bruno Fernandes] red card is overturned that gives frustration because such a long time to play with 10 is of course never in your advantage and it had a real impact on the game but you have to deal with it. We are mad and from the madness we have to get motivation and go on to the next game.'
United's Sir Jim Ratcliffe-controlled football department, led by Dan Ashworth, the sporting director, and the technical director, Jason Wilcox, will evaluate the team's performance in the upcoming games against Porto and Aston Villa on Sunday before making any decisions about the manager's future. Ten Hag was asked if he had received any assurances from them since Sunday that his job was safe.
'We talk every day,' Ten Hag said. 'We are on a common journey – we made that agreement in the summer.
'Everyone has to take responsibility, and that starts with me as a manager. But also on the pitch.' Earlier in the day, Ten Hag told Sky Sports: 'This is nothing for me to panic about because I experienced it so often with my teams during seasons that you are facing those problems.'
