Erik ten Hag answers question about Man United's future as he breaks terrible record

Erik ten Hag is clinging to his job as Manchester United manager.

The red devils drew 0-0 with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday and it remains to be seen if he will remain on the bench after the international break.

United They have taken just eight points from their first seven games, their worst start in the Premier League era.

That surpassed Ten Hag's previous record of nine from the 2023/24 season.

This is the club's lowest figure in its first seven games of a league season since 1989-90 (7).

That campaign under Sir Alex Ferguson saw them finish in 13th place, their lowest league finish in charge of the club.

Manchester United have also scored just five goals in their first seven Premier League games of 2024/25.

Only in the 1972/73 campaign did they score fewer goals in their first seven games, and the Red Devils scored just four times.

Ten Hag was given two games to save his place at Old Trafford following their dismal 3-0 defeat to Tottenham last weekend.

The draws with Porto and Aston Villa may not have given the United hierarchy a clearer picture than they did seven days ago.

talkSPORT's Perry Groves, reporting from Villa Park, said: “That might calm things down a bit.”

Henry Winter added: “I'm sure he will come at some point, but who will he be replaced with? The problem is culture.

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“If you look at that squad, there is still the work of three or four coaches there.”

When asked about speculation about his future at Old Trafford, Ten Hag said: “I mean, maybe you can think it's unfair. Some bring criticism, but at the club we are together.

“We know the process, where we are going. We made the decision only because the owners, the leadership, the staff, the players, they are all together.

“We are in this process and we continue to improve this process and we are convinced that in the end we will be successful.”

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was present at Villa Park on Sunday, as were Man United chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth, as well as INEOS Group head of sport Sir Dave Brailsford .

When asked about senior management's attendance at the match, Ten Hag poured cold water on any suggestion that there would be a meeting about his future at the club.

Ten Hag said: “We talk every day and I know where we are.”

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Ratcliffe recently distanced himself from talk about whether he would pull the trigger on Ten Hag's tenure at Man United.

Speaking before the Aston Villa game, Sir Jim Ratcliffe told the BBC: “I don't want to answer that question. I like Erik, I think he's a very good manager, but at the end of the day it's not my decision.

“It is the management team that runs Manchester United that has to decide how to best manage the team in many different aspects.

“But the team that manages Manchester United has only been together since June or July. They weren't there in January, February, March or April – (CEO) Omar (Berrada), (sporting director) Dan Ashworth – they only arrived in July.

“They've only been there, you can count almost in weeks; they haven't been there for very long, 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 obviously we are not there yet. That is very clear.”

Man United will be next in action against Brentford after the international break.