Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is coming underneath intense scrutiny following a tough begin to the season and, not for the primary time this yr, questions are swirling round his future within the dugout.
A 3-0 defeat in opposition to Liverpool at Outdated Trafford earlier than the worldwide break was maybe written off as a blip, however the warmth has ramped up following Tottenham Hotspur’s go to final weekend — which noticed one other three unanswered targets and a purple card for Bruno Fernandes — with the Dutchman’s facet looking of types from the off.
Manchester United emptiness discuss leaves Graham Potter in a clumsy spot
Graham Potter labored with Manchester United director of soccer Dan Ashworth at Brighton earlier than touchdown the Chelsea job (Picture credit score: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC by way of Getty Photographs) (Picture credit score: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC by way of Getty Photographs)
With hypothesis rising, and Potter showing as a visitor on Monday Night time Soccer forward of Bournemouth v Southampton, it was an opportune second to ask him concerning the hyperlinks.
Monday Night time Soccer host David Jones gave Graham Potter some tough inquiries to reply (Picture credit score: Catherine Ivill/Getty Photographs) (Picture credit score: Catherine Ivill/Getty Photographs)
Requested whether or not he’d be open to taking cost at United, ought to the possibility current itself, Potter awkwardly responded: “I’m sitting right here having fun with this problem of answering your questions. That’s the place I’m at in the intervening time”
The brand new hierarchy on the Theatre of Goals in all probability wouldn’t hurt Potter’s prospects in any recruitment course of, with the at present out-of-work boss having beforehand operated underneath United’s new director of soccer, Dan Ashworth, at Brighton. However Potter was eager to maintain particulars of any conversations he had over the summer season non-public.
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“I believe out of respect to these folks, it’s greatest these are stored non-public,” he stated. “Dan will need to assist and assist. That’s my expertise working with him. He was very supportive at Brighton. He would problem on the proper time, however need to assist.”
It by no means harms to maintain your self within the good books of any potential future employer.
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Potter struck a genuinely supportive tone for his fellow supervisor on the present, which FourFourTwo believes is partly because of his naturally respectful nature, however in all probability additionally has rather a lot to do with him realizing precisely how Ten Hag feels by his personal experiences at Chelsea.
Nevertheless, it’s clear, in FourFourTwo’s opinion – from the non-answers that Potter gave which might make any politician proud – that the job-hunting coach can be very taken with exploring the United emptiness and has probably already had casual chats to that impact, judging by his reluctance to be drawn on that particular level.
Scrutiny is intense on Ten Hag in the intervening time, so a pair extra poor performances this week from his facet may see Potter placing his media profession on maintain within the very close to future.
