Ten Hag: New boss backs me

ERIK TEN HAG insists he doesn’t need a public vote of confidence from new Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe as his future at Old Trafford hangs in the balance. United go to Nottingham Forest in the fifth round of the FA Cup tonight hoping to keep alive their last hope of a trophy this season. Ten Hag’s side then face Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday, desperate for a win to revive their bid for Champions League qualification following Saturday’s shock home defeat by Fulham. Ratcliffe gave a lukewarm response to questions over Ten Hag’s future after completing his £1.3billion investment last week, but the United manager believes he has the backing of his new boss. ‘I’m here. I’m under contract for three seasons, so I don’t care,’ said Ten Hag. ‘I’m only focusing on the process, so I don’t care what’s going on around me. ‘I have many talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, also with Sir Dave Brailsford and others in that group, so I know where we are and I feel they believe in me. I know what I’m doing. ‘Consistently we have talks, and we’re talking about the future together. If you talk about one defeat and the manager’s position is in discussion, I think it’s quite opportune after two months without a defeat. I can’t take it seriously. ‘It’s not about me. I’m not focusing on my personal circumstances, I’m just focusing on the team. It’s all about focusing on that and not get distracted by any noise.’ Of all Ten Hag’s transfer dealings, the £86million paid to his old club Ajax for Antony is likely to give Ratcliffe and Brailsford most cause for concern with United now ready to listen to offers for the Brazil winger. Antony has started just one of the last eight games since United lost at Forest in the league in December.