Erik ten Hag issues defiant five-word response to speculation over his future at Man United boss insists he will speak with board after 0-0 Aston Villa stalemate

Erik 10 Hag insists he has nan afloat backing of nan Manchester United committee aft leading his broadside to a drab 0-0 draw astatine Aston Villa successful beforehand of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The Dutchman was nether immense unit up of this crippled aft Ratcliffe grounded to connection him afloat support successful midweek, saying that a determination connected Ten Hag’s early was ‘not my call’.

This consequence is improbable to mean Ten Hag is retired of nan woods. United are 14th successful nan array heading into nan world break and Ratcliffe will surely not person been thrilled by what he saw – yet Ten Hag remains defiant.

Asked whether Ratcliffe and his advisors backmost him, Ten Hag said: ‘I don’t person immoderate thought that’s different because [otherwise] they should person told me. We pass very openly. It’s very transparent.

‘We are each connected committee together, connected 1 page. We cognize what we are moving done is simply a semipermanent process. I speak continually pinch them. After nan crippled I person to do my occupation – talking to nan players, managing nan players and answering questions from nan media.

‘But we ever talk each week. I would opportunity we talk each time truthful I expect I will speak to them.’

If Old Trafford bosses support religion pinch Ten Hag, his privilege will beryllium to benignant retired his side’s problems successful beforehand of goal.

United drew 3-3 astatine Porto successful nan Europa League past week but they person gone 3 games without a extremity successful nan Premier League and person grounded to people successful 4 of their past 5 matches.

Ten Hag underlined his side’s betterment astatine nan backmost aft their 4th cleanable expanse of nan run but is now worried astir nan fittingness of Harry Maguire, who was injured astatine nan extremity of nan first half and near Villa Park successful a protective boot.

‘In nan opponent’s container we person to beryllium much ruthless, objective and show much slayer instinct,’ he added.