Manchester humiliated at home 3-0 by Tottenham; Erik Ten Hag job not on the line for now

Erik ten Hag is set to stay as Manchester United manager for at least the next two games, talkSPORT understands.

It’s understood the Red Devils hierarchy are not contemplating making any knee-jerk change in the dugout in the wake of Sunday’s 3-0 scrubbing at home by Tottenham.

However the Dutchman is under mounting pressure ahead of back-to-back away games before the October international break against Porto and Aston Villa.

If United did decide to replace Ten Hag having explored alternative options in the summer, the club’s chief on-field decision makers INEOS are known admirers of both Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter.

Both men are currently unemployed, with Southgate standing down as England’s boss following the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

Meanwhile Potter has been out of a job for 18 months having been sacked by Chelsea in March 2023.

Ten Hag came close to being axed at Old Trafford at the end of last season, only for the former Ajax boss to guide United to FA Cup glory over Manchester City.

It was the second successive season in which he delivered silverware for the club, who trumped in the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.

Having finished eighth in the table last term, fans were expecting a better start to this campaign – especially after splashing out around £180million on new players in the summer.

United were the third biggest spenders in Europe during the recent window, having brought in Leny Yoro [£52m], Manuel Ugarte [£51m], Matthijs de Ligt [£43m], Joshua Zirkzee [£36m], Noussair Mazraoui [£15m] and Sekou Kone [£1m].

But United remain inconsistent under Ten Hag’s tutelage, with the club languishing in 12th spot.

Out of their six matches in the top-flight, they have lost half of them, with Brighton and Liverpool also beating United.

They boast just two victories – against Fulham and Southampton – while also drawing against Crystal Palace.

United – and Ten Hag – were also lambasted following the dismal draw in their Europa League opener at home to Dutch side FC Twente.

But it is their loss to Spurs that has proven to be the last straw for many United fans, who finished with ten men following Bruno Fernandes‘ petulance.

Incredibly, since Ten Hag succeeded interim boss Ralf Rangnick in 2022, he has conceded three-plus goals in 25 separate matches.

United have now lost eight of their last 20 home games, and have failed to score in the first half five times this term – more than any other Premier League side.

In total, they have found the back of the net just five times – their fewest from six matches since the 2007/08 campaign – the same season they won the Premier League and Champions League.

And despite sitting eight points already behind leaders Liverpool with a goal difference of minus three, Ten Hag stressed he and his players need to be given more time.

He said after the Spurs defeat: “We all made in the summer the decision to stay together, as an ownership, a leadership group.

“Also we made the decision from a clear review what we have to improve and how we want to construct a squad.

“But we knew it will take some time, how the window went, some players late in like Ugarte.