Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth working long hours as Erik ten Hag decision looms

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Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox worked long hours at Carrington ahead of Thursday's game against FC Porto.

Ashworth and Wilcox were understood to be present late in the evening at Carrington at the beginning of the week ahead of what was billed as a huge few days for Erik ten Hag.

United officials flew to Portugal on Wednesday and dined with officials from Porto.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has put in place a new football structure since becoming co-owner of United in February and they are expected to decide on Ten Hag's future amid poor results.

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United drew 3-3 with Porto in the Europa League on Thursday night and needed a late goal from Harry Maguire to rescue a point, despite leading 2-0 after 20 minutes.

International breaks are synonymous with managerial changes and Ten Hag could be sacked if United are defeated against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking at his pre-Porto press conference in Portugal, Ten Hag said he was in constant communication with United's football structure. "We talk every day," he said.

"We are a union and we made that commitment in the summer. We refreshed the staff and I appointed my assistants, I appointed the staff. I did this. We refreshed the squad as well.

"This club wants to be back on top and it's a long-term target. We talk every day. Every day we evaluate and review the process and where necessary we make our decisions.

"It's not necessary to give me confidence. We talk every day about how we can improve this club, this team, improve the processes, the procedures, the connections. That is what we talk about."

In June, Ratcliffe told Bloomberg Ten Hag was not the 'central issue' at the club. “The coach isn't the central issue at Manchester United," said the British billionaire.

“It’s a sports club. It needs to be competitive, it needs a degree of intensity, but with a supportive side to it because you are dealing with players who are relatively young.

"It hasn’t had that type of environment historically.”

United are 13th in the Premier League and have won three games in all competitions.

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