Ratcliffe turns the heat up on Ten Hag with Aston Villa decision

Robin Bairner

• 3 Oct 2024 09:54 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is set to have the pressure turned up on him ahead of the weekend’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa – regardless of the outcome of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Porto.

Ten Hag finds himself under pressure at Old Trafford after a difficult start to the season that has seen Man Utd slump to three defeats in their opening six Premier League outings.

Such a run has led to rampant speculation that assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy is being groomed to take over as manager at the Red Devils, and these rumours will only build should United suffer a fourth-successive match without a win when they face Porto.

READ MORE: ‘How can you sign Ugarte for €60m?’ - McTominay sends Ten Hag a message

All eyes, meanwhile, are on Ratcliffe, who bought a stake in Man Utd earlier this year and has taken over the running of the sports side of the club.

It was the Ineos supremo who ultimately OKed a summer spend of more than €200 million in the summer, which saw the likes of Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte and Matthijs de Ligt signed for the club.

But with little return from these players to date, the pressure is building.

Make or break for Ten Hag ?

The Athletic reports that Ratcliffe has decided to travel to Sunday’s Premier League clash at Aston Villa – a game in which defeat could see the end of Ten Hag at United.

Indeed, the very fact that the owner will take in the game only serves to suggest that there is additional importance being placed on the fixture.

Van Nistelrooy is seen as a realistic appointment to replace Ten Hag, the same report goes on to say. The former striker has impressed players and staff with his communication, yet there is some doubt as to whether the 48-year-old actually wants the job after struggling to cope with the pressure in his only previous head coaching job at PSV.