Erik ten Hag 'was told to QUIT Manchester United role' by close friend - believes it's a 'miracle' that under-fire boss is still at Old Trafford after dismal start to the season

One of Erik 10 Hag's adjacent friends told nan Manchester United head to 'quit' his position and admitted amazement that nan Dutchman is still successful complaint astatine Old Trafford.

Ten Hag is facing different aggravated play of scrutiny over his guidance aft a dismal commencement to his 3rd campaign successful complaint pinch United languishing 13th successful nan Premier League standings and without a triumph successful their 2 Europa League openers.

The 50-year-old has remained adamant that he is nan champion personification to lead nan English giants to success, but could look nan sack if United suffer against Aston Villa connected Sunday pinch Sir Jim Ratcliffe group to beryllium successful attendance.

Ten Hag survived nan sack successful nan summertime aft winning nan FA Cup and signed a caller statement astatine nan nine arsenic nan INEOS-backed sporting section decided to support him successful charge.

They past backed nan erstwhile Ajax leader pinch complete £200m of caller recruits to return Ten Hag's full transportation spending astatine nan nine successful excess of £600m, pinch nan mostly of his signings mostly failing to impress.

Now 1 of his oldest friends, Leon Ten Voorde, has revealed nan proposal he gave Ten Hag arsenic he attempts to past different scare.

The brace grew up together successful nan Netherlands and person remained friends for complete 40 years, and Ten Voorde claimed he told Ten Hag to time off his position past play arsenic United suffered their worst Premier League finish.

'I advised him to time off past summer. He won nan FA Cup, truthful you time off done nan beforehand door,' he told the De Ballen Verstand of TC Tubantia podcast.

'He's had a batch of injuries this past year. But past trainers think: "I tin move things around"'.

However, contempt nan outer unit crashing down connected Ten Hag, his friend admits nan United main remains calm astir his situation, adding: 'How agelong does United deliberation this tin spell on? That mobility is now hanging complete United and Ten Hag again. 

'In general, he is calm and relaxed. But I can't ideate that this leaves you wholly unaffected.'

Ten Hag will effort to assistance his United squad erstwhile they recreation to look a assured Aston Villa broadside successful nan Midlands connected Sunday aft travelling backmost from Portugal.

He will beryllium boosted by nan readiness of skipper Bruno Fernandes.

Fernandes had been owed to service a suspension aft being sent disconnected against Spurs earlier nan reddish paper was rescinded earlier this week.