Man Utd coaches fear 'pathetic' mistakes by players will end up getting Erik ten Hag sacked

Manchester United's coaching staff feel “pathetic” individual mistakes by players are putting unnecessary pressure on manager Erik ten Hag and could lead to his sacking.

Ten Hag's job is on the line after Sunday's humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to Tottenham, which has left United down in 13th place in the Premier League table.

United have lost three of their opening six league games and have a goal difference of minus three, having failed to score in their last two domestic fixtures.

Ten Hag's side were repeatedly exposed by Spurs, who should have won by an even bigger scoreline, with United's coaching staff shocked at the ease with which their defence was breached.

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United's players appeared to have learned nothing from the way FC Twente were allowed to run through them to plunder an equalise and earn a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in the Europa League.

Four days later, Tottenham defender Micky van De Ven was allowed to do exactly the same, running the length of the pitch to set up the opening goal of their emphatic win over United.

There was incredulity among United's coaching staff at the ease with which Van de Ven was allowed to make up so much ground without being challenged.

One member of Ten Hag's inner circle described United's defending for the goal as “pathetic”, with concerns a repeat of those mistakes in the next two games will end with the Dutchman being sacked.

Ten Hag identified United's defence as a priority area in the summer transfer window, with £107million spent on three defenders – Leny Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. In addition, United spent £50m on signing defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Paris St Germain, but the Uruguayan looked way off the pace on Sunday in his first Premier League start.

Ten Hag knows United's next two games – away to Porto on Thursday in the Europa League and away to Aston Villa on Sunday – will decide his fate, despite his claim the club hierarchy still back him.

Newly-appointed CEO Omar Berrada went on the record with his and the club's full backing for Ten Hag four weeks ago, but since then United have won just twice in six games in all competitions – against relegation-threatened Southampton and League One Barnsley.

Support for Ten Hag is ebbing away with every defeat and limp performance, with the United hierarchy set to make a definitive decision on the future of the 54-year-old after the next two games.

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