Erik ten Hag confident he will be Manchester United manager next season - ‘I have no doubts’

Erik ten Hag has said he has “no doubts” he will still be in charge of Manchester United next season despite recent speculation over his future.

INEOS CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently acquired a minority stake in the club and took over football operations, with reports emerging that England manager Gareth Southgate was a leading candidate to replace the Dutchman if he was to depart.

However, Ten Hag believes he is leading the team “in the right direction,” despite suffering an agonising late loss away to Chelsea on Thursday.

United sit sixth in the Premier League ahead of the game against leaders Liverpool on Sunday, 11 points behind Aston Villa who currently occupy the fourth and final UEFA Champions League spot.

“I don't have any doubts," Ten Hag told Sky Sports. “I'm just focusing on my job, focusing on this process, in this project. I really love to be here, I'm enjoying it. For me it's a challenge.”

He added: “It will not go always in the right way, it's not going always the results in the way we wanted but I'm sure we're in the right direction and we will get where we want to be.”

Ten Hag has also come to the defence of Marcus Rashford after the forward faced backlash for a perceived lack of effort having come on in the second half of United’s dramatic 4-3 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

The England international replaced Rasmus Hojlund in the 66th minute with United leading 3-2 only for Cole Palmer to score in the 100th and 101st minutes and secure all three points for Chelsea.

Following the game, a clip went viral on social media showing Rashford seemingly failing to press from the front when the ball was played to Palmer in the 84th minute.

It’s not the first time the 26-year-old’s commitment has been questioned this season. In February, he penned a letter on The Players’ Tribune hitting back at his critics.

“I can take any headline,” he wrote. “From podcasts, social media and the papers. I can take it.

“But if you start questioning my commitment to this club and my love for football and bringing my family into it, then I’d simply ask you to have a bit more humanity.”

Rashford scored 30 goals in all competitions last season but has failed to match that output this campaign, netting just eight times in 37 appearances.

However, ahead of the visit of Liverpool to Old Trafford on Sunday, Ten Hag insisted there was no issue with Rashford’s attitude.

“Lately his form is progressing,” the Dutchman said. “I think he has a big motivation because he wants to be successful with us.

“He wants to score goals but he wants to win trophies and we still have a chance in the FA Cup. He wants to fight for a Champions League spot and the Euros are coming so I will say his motivation should be high.

“He can change the momentum. Before [the 30 March game at] Brentford he scored three goals in three games.”

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing, NBA and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.