Erik ten Hag has acknowledged that Manchester United currently falls short of the standards established by Sir Alex Ferguson and that no one at the club is pleased with their current struggles. However, he emphasized that they cannot escape the pressure and expectations surrounding them and is confident that the club will achieve success during his tenure.
As United prepares to face Brentford at Old Trafford on Saturday, Ten Hag is in urgent need of a victory after the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season has heightened scrutiny over his future.
It was reported this week that United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans to end Ferguson’s £2 million-a-year ambassadorial position at the conclusion of the season as part of ongoing cost-cutting efforts.
While Ten Hag mentioned that he still hopes to seek Ferguson’s guidance when necessary, he admitted that his team is not currently performing at the level seen during Ferguson’s reign, which included 13 Premier League titles and two European Cups.
“Right now, we can’t reach the standards he set, but we have still won trophies,” Ten Hag noted, referring to his successes in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. “It’s important to remember that six years ago, this club wasn’t winning any trophies, so we are making progress. However, we still have a long way to go, and it’s crucial to get all processes right to build a team with the best players.
