'I don't care' – Erik ten Hag addresses Sir Jim Ratcliffe's refusal to publicly back him at Manchester United | 9YP0K4D | 2024-02-29 16:08:01
A defiant Erik ten Hag insists he's refusing to get distracted by outdoors 'noise' and 'doesn't care' that he's yet to obtain a public vote of confidence from new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Last week, Ratcliffe – CEO of the INEOS chemical compounds group – officially completed his 27.7 per cent takeover in a £1.3billion deal at Old Trafford.
The 71-year-old has made no secret of his sky-high ambitions to return United to their former glory, outlining his plans to knock Liverpool and Manchester City off their perch, while additionally revealing his preference to rebuild the Theatre of Dreams.
But Ratcliffe, crucially, is but to publicly endorse Ten Hag and up to date reviews emanating from France declare the British billionaire is prepared to axe the Dutchman if results fail to improve, with Zinedine Zidane eyed as a 'dream' managerial target.
Zidane, who has been out of a job since stepping down from his second spell answerable for Real Madrid in 2021, put United on purple alert by signalling his intention to return to administration this week.
Requested whether he has quick plans to return to teaching, Zidane replied: 'Why not? Anything can occur.
'However in the mean time I'm doing one thing else. I'm positive that I'll return to the bench, I want to coach once more.'
United's dismal defeat at house to Fulham last weekend placed further strain on an already under-fire Ten Hag, with the club languishing down in sixth within the Premier League – 16 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
Nevertheless, speaking to the media ahead of United's FA Cup fifth spherical tie with Nottingham Forest, Ten Hag insisted he had only acquired constructive feedback from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford because the INEOS takeover.
'So I'm right here. I'm beneath contract for 3 seasons, so I don't care,' he informed reporters.
'I'm solely specializing in the method, so I don't care what's happening round me. I've many talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, also with Sir Dave Brailsford and others in that group, so I do know where we're and I feel that they consider in me.'
Gary Neville this week suggested United's hierarchy may already have made a decision over Ten Hag's future, however the ex-Ajax boss isn't focussing on his 'private circumstances'.
Ten Hag added: 'I know what I'm doing. Persistently we've talks, and we're talking concerning the future together.
'In case you speak about one defeat and the supervisor's place is in dialogue, I feel it's quite opportune after two months and not using a defeat. I can't take it significantly.
'It might be an issue when the management on this group has this strategy or, internally, the others would have this strategy, but that's not the case. We are together there.
'It's not about me. I'm not specializing in my private circumstances, I'm just focusing on the workforce. It's all about focusing on that and don't get distracted by any noise or whatever.'
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With an eagerly anticipated Manchester derby subsequent up for United, Ten Hag confused that he had to ignore incessant speculation over his future and as an alternative remain targeting purely footballing issues.
In case you speak about one defeat and the supervisor's position is in dialogue, I feel it's fairly opportune after two months with no defeat.
'I can't decide one thing from this, I can't take it significantly. I've to remain targeted once more on the staff and on the workforce's efficiency.'
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