FEEL THE FOURTH
Ten Hag so sure he can climb up Cliffe
ERIK TEN HAG is confident he can achieve Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s target of Champions League football – and keep his job as Manchester United boss.
Ratcliffe completed his investment into United this week to take over their football operations and will axe Ten Hag if he does not qualify for the Champions League.
United are sixth, five points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, and Ten Hag is bullish he can meet this goal.
“Absolutely, I have that feeling,” he said. “We are very aligned in the process.
“It’s normal pressure because we have the same ambition. We have the same targets.”
United have won their last four Premier League games ahead of today’s visit of Fulham to Old Trafford and Ten Hag believes his side are improving.
He understands why United’s Champions League prospects are being questioned but is confident he can deliver.
“It will always be the case,” he said. “But I see this team is developing, it’s progressing.
“We’re still in a moment where every game is a final for us. Of course, we have to be in the Champions League. The players all want this, the team wants this, we have a strong ambition and we belong there, that’s what we believe. But then you have to prove it.”
Ten Hag says he has had conversations with minority shareholder Ratcliffe and that they are on the same page.
The Dutch coach added: “It totally fits with ambitions I have, with the ambitions I had when I came in.
“So we are in a project. For me, I’m now 19 months in and I see we are going in the right direction. We’ve had setbacks in the second season, but you see the squad progressing and developing.
“We must keep going in this process, we must work hard on the training pitch, work hard during games.
“Of course, it’s important to have the players fit, but also to construct the squad.
“I’m sure we will be strong and we will be even stronger when we add to this squad even more qualities.”
Ratcliffe wants to bring in Dan Ashworth from Newcastle to be United’s new sporting director and the Old Trafford boss has told him he must have the final say on signings.
Ten Hag said: “They will not bring in players who the manager doesn’t want, because that will not work.”