Londoner Eric On Hag took charge of Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat by Crystal Palace on Monday, but insists he is still the right man to turn the club’s fortunes around.
Palace completed United’s first league double as Michael Olise scored twice, while Philippe Mateta and Thirik Mitchell were also on target for the Eagles.
The defeat left the Top Ten in eighth place, bottom of the Premier League and in danger of qualifying for next season’s European competition.
Ever since English billionaire Jim Ratcliffe bought a minority stake and took control of club sport earlier this year, the Dutchman’s future has been in doubt due to structural changes taking place at Old Trafford.
“It’s not clear and it’s not being implemented,” said Ten Hag. “We haven’t seen how we’re going to do that, and it’s not enough yet.”
The right ten options have been limited by the growing injury list.
The centre-back pairing of Casemiro and Jonny Evans were separated by Palace’s pace and invention.
“Of course,” Ten Hag added, adding that he believes he is the right man to lead United.
“If we have players available we have a good squad, but we miss almost the whole line-up and we struggle.
“I will keep fighting and I have prepared the team as much as possible.
Worse yet, when Arsenal travel to Old Trafford this weekend, the Ten Hag could arrive.
United have failed to finish in the top seven in the Premier League season and must beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final to qualify for Europe.
But the embarrassing record at Selhurst Park was unprecedented in the Ten Hag era.
He scored 81 goals in all competitions this season, the club’s worst since 1976-77.
After disappointing early performances in the Champions League and League Cup, the FA Cup run gave the Ten Hag a boost.
But they earned their place by surviving a penalty shoot-out against second-tier Coventry after a 3-3 draw in a second successive final.
“It was difficult to watch,” former United midfielder Paul Scholes said of the Red Devils’ display at Palace. “It could be 7-0.”
Ratcliffe’s INEOS team have started work as they hope to end a decade-long run at the 20-time English champions.
Jason Wilcox has been appointed as the club’s new technical director, while Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth has been named sporting director and former Manchester City executive Omar Berrada will take over as CEO.
Man Utd rut ‘not good enough’ but Ten Hag vows to fight on
