Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag “can’t be bothered” with criticism of the job he is doing at Old Trafford and claims he has only been able to pick his strongest team once in 18 months. (More Football News)
The Dutchman delivered an encouragin꧟g first season, winnin♍g the League Cup and finishing in the top four, but this campaign has been far more difficult.
They were knocked ou♔t of the Champions League at the group stage and are in a battle to finish in the top six in the Premier League, with his position coming under scrutiny following Sir Jim 𝐆Ratcliffe’s minority purchase and takeover of the football operations.
United can salvage their seas🃏on by winning the FA Cup and they aim to reach a second successive final when they host Championship Coventry on Sunday.
Ten Hag insists he shuts out th♏e noise whe﷽n it comes to speculation on his future.
“I don’t put energy into this, if I’m judged fairly or not,” he said. “I know what we are doing here, why I’m here, to bring trophies, to also create economic value, so we are working on those and in a process you have 🅺setbacks.
“I look at this and can see it realistically, so I see the nuance, some comments miss that, but I ꩵcan’t be bothered about it, can’t go into emotions.
“I see it realistic, rationale, and I’m o🔴nly focussing on my team, to💛 improve the team and individuals. That’s what I’m here for.”
United have had injury problems to deal with and the Dutchman says the home win over Manchester City last year was the only time ꧑he had a full squad to choose from.
“I don’t have any concern about what is said on the outside,” he said. “What concerns me is that in 18 months I hꦰave never had my favouꦉrite team on the pitch in 18 months.
“That conꦰcerns me. Because the players are injuꦜred. One time (I could pick my strongest XI) was against City last season in the home game.
“That was the only time where we had a full squad, wꦆhere I can pick my team and in all the other games there was always an injury aspect where we have t💫o deal with.
“That is normal in football but not so many as we have had. And I know when we have so many injuries as we have had and on crucial key positions, you can’t deliver the results you want to brꦗin꧃g and that is OK.
“But th🌞at is my truth. And others can have a different truth. But I can’t put energy in that.”
The man in the opposite dugout should provide a timely reminder to Ten Hag that fortunes in football can change in 😼an instant.
Sky Blues boss Mark Robins is widely acknowledged to be the man who saved Sir Alex 𝓀Ferguson’s job in 1990 when his third-round goal against Nottingham Forest ended a run of 11 games without a win.
United went on to win th🎀e FA Cup that year and the rest is history.
“Yes, I know (the story). In football, it’s sometimes lജike this, that a shꦜot on the post or in the net makes a huge difference,” Ten Hag said.
“See 1966, eh? Onl🍎y one time but it made them (England) world champio𒁏ns.”
