'Fairy tales' - Erik ten Hag hits back at critics as he speaks out on Manchester United future

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Erik ten Hag insists he did not require any assurances about his position at Manchester United and "fairy tales" were written about his position.

Ten Hag will take charge of United for the 126th time against Brentford in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday amid ongoing uncertainty over his position.

United earmarked Thomas Tuchel as Ten Hag's replacement before the Football Association accelerated their plans to install him as the new England coach. Former England manager Gareth Southgate has also effectively ruled himself out of replacing Ten Hag as he intends to take a year out.

Figures at United refused to clarify Ten Hag's position during the October internationals but Ten Hag, who entered the room chirpily and told journalists "I missed you all so much", suggested it was not necessary.

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"No," Ten Hag replied when asked if he had received assurances. "The noise is only coming from the media, from you guys. From some of you, not all of you, but some of you. Bringing up stories, creating stories, creating fairy tales, making noise, bringing lies.

"Because I know we are all on one page in this club. I told this before the break, I told several journalists, they didn't believe me. I see the reports, but internal in the club it's quiet.

"Of course, we are discussing the position where we are, that we are unhappy in the position where we are and we have to turn the corner, what has to happen with a strategy to turn this corner.

"But ultimately we are quiet, we are composed, we stay where we are, we stick to the plan and we are very convinced we will make it a success."

United are 14th in the Premier League table with a -3 goal difference after seven games. Only Southampton have scored fewer goals than United.

"We have to climb a mountain, that's top football and sometimes you have to face challenges. Sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down but I am sure we will make it a success like we did the last two seasons.

"I think we are in a direction, underneath I see good things, I see good patterns, I see also good stats that confirm we are in a good direction but the ranking is not lying. We are where we are and it is not good enough.

"I think the players do well, we won last season. Maybe you forgot and when we face problems sometimes we have to line up teams that were not in the right balance because the players were not available.

"But, in general, the players do perform well and you see now we have to start scoring and that part is the most important part in football. If you want to win games you have to score goals. That part we have to improve.

"We are entering the final third, we are entering the box, we are coming in good positions to score but now we have to step up with the most important part is to net."

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