Everything Ratcliffe, Ashworth and Berrada have said about Erik ten Hag at Manchester United

Get the latest on new manager Erik ten Hag, transfers and United team news delivered straight to your inbox every day for free

Get the latest on new manager Erik ten Hag, transfers and United team news delivered straight to your inbox every day for free

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was stopped in Barcelona and asked about Erik ten Hag on Friday afternoon.

Manchester United drew 3-3 with FC Porto on Thursday and some suspected Ratcliffe would make the short flight over the Spanish border to watch the Europa League clash.

Ratcliffe is expected to be in attendance at Villa Park this weekend as United take on Aston Villa in a must-win fixture and Ten Hag will be desperate to secure a positive result.

The pressure on Ten Hag's position has intensified and his future at Old Trafford is in doubt ahead of the international break, which would provide a chance to change manager.

ALSO READ: Maguire reveals dressing room reaction to United display

ALSO READ: Ashworth working long hours as Ten Hag decision looms

Ratcliffe confirmed that he would not be involved in the decision on Ten Hag's future in his interview and it's worth revisiting his comments on the Dutchman, along with what sporting director Dan Ashworth and CEO Omar Berrada said when speaking to reporters.

Ratcliffe's verdict - October 4

Ratcliffe spoke to the BBC after Ineos Britannia's boat and said: "I don’t want to answer that question. I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call.

"It’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.

"But that team that’s running United has only been together since June or July. They weren’t there in January, February, March or April – Omar [Berrada] and Dan Ashworth, they only arrived in July.

"They’ve only been there, you can count it in weeks almost. They’ve not been there a long time so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions. Our objective is very clear.

"We want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously. That’s very clear.”

Ratcliffe has delegated responsibility to the new football structure since his investment into United was signed off in February and those key figures will preside over Ten Hag.

Berrada and Ashworth - September 1

United invited dedicated journalists to a question and answer session with Berrada and Ashworth before the Liverpool game in September and Ten Hag's future was discussed.

When asked about Ten Hag's contract extension after he lifted the FA Cup, Berrada said: "Again, so in terms of the contract, that was a decision that was taken prior to both of our arrivals.

"But as I said before, we're very happy with that decision. Erik has our full backing and we have worked very closely together, as Dan said before, in this transfer window. We're going to continue working very closely with him to help him get the best results out of the team."

Berrada was asked whether Ten Hag would still be backed if there was a bad run of results and said: "Do we still believe in? Erik? Absolutely. We think Erik is the right coach for us and we’re fully backing him."

Responding to a question about inheriting a coach, Ashworth said: "Well, it happened at Newcastle with Eddie Howe [during his time there], it happened at West Brom, Tony Mowbray was in place. Very rarely do you go into a job as a sporting director and there's no manager in place.

"I didn't start until July 1, so none whatsoever [say in keeping Ten Hag]. All I can do is reiterate what I remember saying, I've really enjoyed working with Erik for the last eight weeks.

"I see my job is to support him in every way I possibly can, and whether that's operationally, whether that's with recruitment, whether that's with medical, whether that's with psychology, whether that's training ground flow, it's just to take as much of that off him to allow him to fully focus on the training pitch and the match tactical plan to deliver success for Manchester United."

Ten Hag - October 3

Despite the growing pressure, Ten Hag refused to dwell on his own future when the subject was broached at his press conference after the six-goal game against Porto.

"I'm not thinking about such issues because that is not a topic," he said. "We are in there together. The ownership, the leadership, the team, the staff. I appointed new staff.

"We bought again new young players and we have to integrate them. Like we just talked about Manu Ugarte. So the six position was absolutely one of the topics we want to sign for this season, but he needs time to integrate.

"I know in top football you don't get time, they have to perform immediately, but that's not always realistic. He has to get used to our game model, he has to get used to his teammates, he has to get used to the intensity of the Premier League. So it needs time.

"We have more positions where we need time. I'm very pleased with the return of Rasmus Hojlund. I think he had a good return, but we couldn't play him in the first two months of the season. Hopefully he is now fit. He keeps improving in his fitness levels and that he also has a consistent fit season that will help us.

"There are more areas where we will improve, definitely, and then this team can grow and improve. And then we will see where we will end in the end of the season."

Click here to read article