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Under-fire Erik ten Hag is convinced he retains the backing of Manchester United\u2019s players after the club were angered by reports he had lost some of the dressing room.<\/p>\n
The Dutchman\u2019s challenging second campaign in charge continued on Saturday night, when a lifeless display saw the Red Devils fall to a meek 1-0 defeat at Newcastle.<\/p>\n
A 10th defeat of the season led to some reports that Ten Hag had lost the confidence of up to half of his players, with concerns over his style, tactics and signings mentioned.<\/p>\n
Those reports led to the club banning four media outlets shortly before Tuesday\u2019s press conference nominally set up to preview the midweek Premier League clash against Chelsea.<\/p>\n
United said the action was taken for not \u201ccontacting us first to give us the opportunity to comment, challenge or contextualise\u201d, adding they believed it was \u201can important principle to defend\u201d.<\/p>\n
Asked if he believed he still had the requisite buy-in from his players to be successful, Ten Hag said: \u201cOh yes, I\u2019m sure.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you can see, for instance, the comeback against Brentford, the Burnley game, the Fulham game, so every time the team is there, showed great character.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat determination, resilient, so yeah, we are together.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you can see you can\u2019t play such great football what we did lately if there is no unity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ten Hag downplayed Newcastle as \u201cone bad performance\u201d after the 3-0 league win at Everton and the 3-3 Champions League draw at Galatasaray, and addressed the bans handed out to journalists.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should come to us first and not go around our back printing articles,\u201d the United manager said. \u201cThat\u2019s not the right thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have another relationship, and then they should give that to us beforehand. We have a normal and professional discussion and debate about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pushed on whether he was concerned there was truth behind reports of player unhappiness, the United manager said: \u201cNo.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course there are always in every team players who are less playing, who are less happy, but not different as normal.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to wait for their chance and that can come, but, no, there are no issues.\u201d<\/p>\n
There were no questions in the press conference about Wednesday\u2019s match against Chelsea, who are managed by Mauricio Pochettino \u2013 the man considered Ten Hag\u2019s main rival for the Old Trafford post in 2022.<\/p>\n
The former Ajax boss quickly oversaw improvements on and off the pitch at United, but this season there has been criticism about the manager\u2019s approach.<\/p>\n
Do you think that you can make a goal like we did against Everton if the players didn’t embrace it? What do you think?<\/p>\n
\u201cI listen always to my players,\u201d the Dutchman said. \u201cAnd I give them always the opportunities to tell (me). If the players have a different opinion, of course I will listen.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut they haven\u2019t told me, or maybe one or two (have), but it\u2019s about in general, so the majority, they want to play like this \u2013 proactive, dynamic, brave. That is what they want.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can see the players are behind it because of the performances against Everton, Galatasaray, and we are really improving.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think that you can make a goal like we did against Everton if the players didn\u2019t embrace it? What do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n
But there were few signs of that progress at St James\u2019 Park, leading Ten Hag to say that playing three big away games in six days hurt a group that are \u201cnot robots\u201d.<\/p>\n
The United boss certainly came out fighting ahead facing Chelsea and dismissed suggestions that the banning of reporters suggested disorder around the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut not in the dressing room,\u201d Ten Hag said. \u201cOf course, there are a lot of rumours about strategic review but it\u2019s not that we get distracted from it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are on a journey, on the route. We know we are still in transition, but we are in the right direction, and you see it.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike how we construct a team, how we develop the team, how the team is progressing, how young players coming in, you see the potential how they can contribute to a very successful Manchester United for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n