Ten Hag does not regret taking Man Utd job

Erik ten Hag insists he has never regretted taking the job as Manchester United manager.

United finished third, reached the FA Cup final, and ended their six-year wait for a trophy by winning the EFL Cup in Ten Hag’s first season in charge.

The Dutchman’s second season has not lived up to the first, as United sit in eighth, with a European place slipping away from them.

With a year still left on his contract, Ten Hag is under increasing pressure following a poor run of results, including a humbling 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday.

“I don’t regret being here for one second,” said Ten Hag.

“This is a massive club. You don’t know the challenges you have to face until you are in it. But I wanted this challenge.”

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Ten Hag once again highlighted their injury troubles, especially in defence, as one of their main struggles this season.

Reports emerged following the Palace defeat that the United players no longer backed their manager, but Ten Hag rejected that suggestion.

“There is great team spirit. In almost every game they fought,” he added.

“Not on Monday [at Palace], that is why I was so disappointed. But in all the other games they have fought. I can’t have any doubts about this.”

United host Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, as Mikel Arteta’s side aim to go back to the top of the Premier League table.

Despite being favourites to win the game, Arteta praised Ten Hag as a coach and said the club should give him more time.

When asked about the Dutchman’s position, Arteta said: “I can only talk about what I think about him as a coach. He’s an excellent coach. I admire his teams, both Ajax and United.

“Hopefully he gets the time because we are colleagues, and we know how difficult it is in this league and what the margins are – hopefully that’s the case because I think he is an excellent coach.”