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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag won this weekend in a testimonial match he was managing during the international break.
The Dutch coach came under a lot of fire last season for his team’s eighth place finish in the Premier League and propensity to ship goals under pressure.
After a successful summer window it was hoped that he could turn a corner after surviving Ineos’ audit of his performance during the month of June.
Two defeats in three Premier League games, including a humbling 0-3 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford has done little to enhance his support at the club however.
Ten Hag once again enraged fans with comments of how his side have been the second best team in England since he joined the club, when league evidence tells a quite different story.
His job is reportedly “on the line” after the deflating start to the season and he has apparently got four games after the international break to save his Old Trafford career.
The former Ajax coach could have been forgiven for taking a break from football over the international break to escape the pressure but agreed to manage a legend FC Utrecht side versus the current team in a testimonial for former player Mark van der Maarel.
It was originally reported that Ten Hag had lost the game.
The Daily Mail report that “Ten Hag was in charge of the ex-Utrecht stars but was unable to guide them to victory as they lost 2-1, with Van der Maarel scoring a late consolation.”
However, these reports turned out to be false.
After the match, the United boss was incredibly complimentary of his former player and the career that he carved out.
“If you stay at this club for so long, you are a character. He has so deserved this,” he said.
He will now turn his attention to preparing his Manchester United side to take a much-needed three points from their next league fixture away to newly promoted Southampton.
Anything less than a victory will only continue to pile pressure on the former Utrecht boss.
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