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Manchester United have had their worst start to a season since 1962 and tension is mounting over manager Erik ten Hag ahead of tomorrow’s game against Fulham.
United have lost five of their opening 10 matches in the Premier League and were dumped out of the Carabao Cup in midweek following an abject defeat to Newcastle.
It is understood Ten Hag’s position is safe for now, but uncertainty over the club’s future continues with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s deal to purchase a 25 per cent stake in the club still yet to be confirmed and the Glazers seeking to remain in place.
In latest developments, Ratcliffe is to commit up to £245m to improve Manchester United’s infrastructure as part of his agreement, according to Sky News.
On the pitch, United’s poor start to the season worsened further after suffering two heavy defeats at Old Trafford this week, first to Manchester City in the derthrough before Newcastle ended their Carabao Cup defence in an unhappy 3-0 defeat.
Defeat in the Manchester derby last weekend left United eight points off the top four already, and the gap cannot afford to stretch any wider ahead of Saturday lunchtime’s trip to Fulham.
Meanwhile, key midfielder Casemiro has been out for “several weeks” due to a hamstring injury and is now expected to miss the rest of November with United, when they face Fulham, FC Copenhagen, Luton, Everton and Galatasaray.
Follow the latest Manchester United news below as Ten Hag speaks to the media ahead of facing Fulham on Saturday.
Pressure building on Erik ten Hag after United’s worst start since 1962
Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘settles’ on 25 cents consistent with penny investment: reports
Casemiro will be out for “several weeks” due to a femoral biceps injury
Erik ten Hag speaks to the media ahead of trip to Fulham
11:49 , Jamie Braidwood
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is to commit up to £245m to improve Manchester United’s infrastructure as part of his agreement to purchase a 25 per cent stake of the club, according to Sky News.
Ratcliffe and Ineos will buy an initial 25% stake in Manchester United, with the resolution expected to be shown in the next two weeks, The Independent reported last month. The billionaire petrochemical tycoon needs it to be a “path to the majority. “, according to the figures involved, and it will already influence football resolutions.
Ratcliffe’s decision to go for a 25 per cent minority stake, valued at around £1.3bn, is also set to see the Ineos owner invest a significant sum into fixing-up Old Trafford, which has been hit by problems in recent seasons, such as a leaky roof, and was overlooked as a host venue for Euro 2028.
16:01, Jamie Braidwood
Casemiro has been ruled out for “several weeks” with a hamstring injury that has added to Manchester United’s problems.
The Brazilian was hurt in the first half of Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat to Newcastle, which came after he missed United’s three previous matches with an ankle problem.
He will now play for the rest of November for United, when he faces Fulham, FC Copenhagen, Luton, Everton and Galatasaray.
The 31-year-old, who has played the full 90 minutes of a match for United since September, could be caught in a race against time for potentially difficult fixtures in early December when United face Newcastle and Chelsea ahead of Bayern’s Bournemouth. Munich and Liverpool.
His absence means loan signing Sofyan Amrabat could get an extended run as Erik ten Hag’s defensive midfielder.
Raphael Varane will return to Craven Cottage on Saturday after missing the Newcastle game due to a virus, but Victor Lindelof is a doubt.
Manager Ten Hag said: “Varane is ready to play so he will travel with the squad. Victor Lindelof [has] some illness, we have to see if he is ready.”
Manchester United confirm Casemiro injury blow ahead of crucial run
14:19, Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag has insisted that his footballing vision for Manchester United combines the club’s identity and the qualities of his players along with Ajax’s passing philosophy, Richard Jolly reports.
The United manager had given an interview this week at his Dutch venue in which he appeared to recommend that he did not have players to play like his former club, Ajax.
But Ten Hag, whose team have lost eight of their 15 games this season and been accused of having an identity crisis and no style of play, has argued that was misinterpreted and that he is looking for a blend of both clubs.
He insisted: “The explanation from my point of view was totally wrong that I can’t play like Ajax because I have different players. I came here with my philosophy based on possession but also [I want] to combine it with the DNA of Manchester United and combine it with the competences and the characters of the players. We have seen what it was. We played very good football last season.”
Erik ten Hag defends Manchester United’s style of play after Ajax claim
17:59 , Jamie Braidwood
Gary Neville slammed Manchester United for turning their Old Trafford home from the “Theatre of Dreams into the Theatre of Nothing” and claimed they’re leaving fans “bored” after another wretched display saw them crash out of the Carabao Cup
The 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United at the last-16 stage followed a loss by the same scoreline to fierce rivals Manchester City over the weekend, meaning they havehave lost consecutive home games by at least three goals for the first time since 1962.
“Last night we saw the Theatre of Dreams transformed into the Theatre of Nothingness,” Neville wrote. “All United enthusiasts are bored and exhausted. On the pitch, players in shock, terrible performances and a coach in trouble before our eyes. We’ve noticed it before, we know how it ends, and we’ve had enough.
Gary Neville criticises Manchester United’s ‘Theatre of Nothingness’ because fans are ‘upset’
17:20, Jamie Braidwood
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has spoken to Sir Jim Ratcliffe about the option of joining his bid to buy a stake in Manchester United.
Ratcliffe will get a steady 25 cents stake in the Old Trafford club, and the deal will give the 71-year-old billionaire a say in affairs.
Ineos founder Ratcliffe, along with Wolff, 51, and Ola Kallenius own a third of the Mercedes Formula 1 team. Mercedes team principal Wolff has overseen six of Lewis Hamilton’s seven world championships.
Manchester United news LIVE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘agrees deal’ – takeover latest
16:40, Jamie Braidwood
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has warned that no club is immune from the sort of crisis that has enveloped rivals Manchester United in recent weeks.
City cruised to a 3-0 derby win at Old Trafford last Sunday, and the pressure on Erik ten Hag was then ramped up further after a 3-0 home loss to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday made it eight defeats from their opening 15 games in all competitions.
Guardiola’s side appeared in complete control of the derby as Erling Haaland scored a first-half penalty and then doubled City’s lead just four minutes into the second half, later teeing up Phil Foden to complete the scoring.
But the 52-year-old insisted the win had not been as straightforward as many thought.
That helped us score the second goal early (in the second half) and then we got it, but it’s never easy. I have a lot of respect for Manchester United.
“The era they have now, we can have. No one is immune to those kinds of situations. We won the game and that’s it.
Pep Guardiola warns Manchester United’s woes could affect any club
15:26, Jamie Braidwood
While United are out of form and have already been beaten five times this season at Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag believes the challenge lies in his game plan, but also in the way his injured and heavily upset side implement it.
He added: “The intention is clear but definitely it is the case that the execution isn’t there but at the moment we have so many changes every game, we can’t line up the same two or three games in a row and we have to swap.
“We have to win and I don’t want to find excuses if we are not winning. We have to be more pragmatic but still we have to win. That is the demand and I can’t walk away from that.”
14:53, Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag insisted on his strategy of not playing football with long balls, but using the speed and height of his forwards, as well as the distribution of goalkeeper André Onana, to beat the opposition press.
He explained: “We want to go more direct, but the explanation for my direct thought is I want to go for long balls. No, I don’t want Andre Onana to go for long balls. I want to play out from the back. But if an opponent is going in high press, it is a good option to go direct.
“But what I wanted to say frankly is that we need to press from other blocks and then go straight through because we have players like Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford and Antony and Bruno [Fernandes] and Scott McTominay who are very smart in that domain and with passing. Christian Eriksen, then the full-backs joined in and that was my idea.
14:02 , Jamie Braidwood
The midfielder, who has not completed 90 minutes since September, is set to be ruled out for the rest of the month:
v Fulham (A) – 4/11
vs Copenhagen (A) – 8/11
v Luton (M) – 11/11
vs Everton (A) – 11/26
vs Galatasaray (A) – 29/11
vs Newcastle (A) – 2/12
13:49, Jamie Braidwood
On Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s potential investment and return to the moving market: “I’ve got a smart team. I’m convinced of the players in the dressing room. We saw those players last year, they can do a lot more, but it’s up to me to let them play better. I have to take it upon myself to make them play better and I will do everything I can to do that. I’m not thinking about moving windows because I have smart equipment.
13:39, Jamie Braidwood
On the atmosphere in the dressing room: “The players are positive. They’re going to replace that. The wardrobe is solid. The coach is strong. We’re going to replace that.
On whether Fulham are a must-see fixture: “I don’t need to think like that. Every game is a must. I’m sure the players will be ready. I’m convinced through the players. “
13:37, Jamie Braidwood
On the current situation of the Fulham team: “Varane is fit to play. He’ll do it with the team. Victor Lindelof is ill, we’ll have to see if he’s fit tomorrow.
On whether the team lacks a fight: “Remember the fight we saw against Brentford. If there was no spirit, if there were no characters in the locker room, we wouldn’t see this [the comeback].
On his team’s style of play: “I came here with my philosophy, which is to play possession, but I wanted to combine it with the history and tradition of Manchester United. Last year we saw that, we played good football. This season has been harder. There have been so many changes. We miss often players in the back four. That doesn’t help your routines.
“But I don’t need to make excuses. We have to win. I don’t need to walk away from that.
‘We have to win. That’s the demand and I don’t walk away from that!’ ?Erik ten Hag speaks ahead of Manchester United’s visit to Fulham ? pic.twitter.com/sLO6Zix15E
– Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 3, 2023
13:32 , Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag speaks to the media against Fulham this afternoon
We tell you what the Manchester United manager has to say about Casemiro’s injury, the team’s form and how he can improve the club’s season.
13:16 , Jamie Braidwood
Scott McTominay has suggested Manchester United “stick together” after their worst start to a season since 1962:
“Everyone knows that we are not at our maximum production framework at the moment. We have to stick together, that’s the ultimate.
“Obviously, enthusiasts will hear the generic reaction of ‘we want to stay together,’ but it’s true.
“Everyone needs this football club to succeed and we have to come together and try to be as smart as possible with each other in the dressing room to achieve those effects in our direction.
“I feel like we’ve got more than enough talent in the changing room to do that and whenever you look at the boys who are playing, but obviously something isn’t quite clicking.
“It’s up to the coach and the players to solve this challenge and I’m 100 percent sure we’ll make it. “
12:56 pm, Jamie Braidwood
Manchester United have lost five of their first 10 Premier League games, their record at the start of a league crusade since 1986-87.
The Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle made it their eighth defeat in 15 games in all competitions, making it their worst start to a season since 1962-63.
12:34 , Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag’s rallying cry: “I’m a fighter and I know I don’t let it go. We’ve had a lot of setbacks this season so far, but you also have to deal with them and that’s never an excuse.
“I have said that before I know when there are setbacks the routines are not the same, but even then you have to get results in. Obviously, Sunday and tonight were far from that so we have to do things right and at a certain level, at the minimum level to win games.
“I see the effects there. It also makes sense for them to question it. But I’m sure I can do it. I’ve done it at all my clubs and last year too, here I did it. “too, but now we’re on a rough patch.
“I take it upon myself to do so. I see this as a challenge. I’m a fighter and I’m in this fight and I have to make sure that I share the responsibility with my players and that we stay together and fight together to achieve better results.
“It is under the criteria that everyone expects from Manchester United. It is not enough, far from it. We want to do something about it. I assume the duty of it. They are my team and they are not performing. I have to share it with my players, but I am responsable.
12:18, Jamie Braidwood
Casemiro has been ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring injury that has added to Manchester United’s problems, Richard Jolly reports.
The Brazilian was injured in the first half of Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle after missing United’s last three games with an ankle problem.
He will now play for the rest of November for United, when he faces Fulham, FC Copenhagen, Luton, Everton and Galatasaray.
The 31-year-old, who has not played the full 90 minutes in a match for United since September, could be in a race against time for potentially tough games at the start of December, when United face Newcastle and Chelsea before Bournemouth, Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
His absence means loan signing Sofyan Amrabat could get an extended run as Erik ten Hag’s defensive midfielder.
11:41, Jamie Braidwood
Under fire, Erik ten Hag says Manchester United will have to “rise up” and work “shoulder to shoulder” to turn around a season that threatens to collapse.
Old Trafford is on a high after two 3-0 home defeats in four days added to the pressure on a club that is enjoying its worst start to a campaign since 1962-63.
Sunday’s loss to rival Manchester City was compounded by Wednesday’s Newcastle, who comfortably won a replay of the Carabao Cup final in February.
It underlined how things have gone off the rails since the groups met at Wembley, with United losing 8 of their 15 games in all competitions this season.
“It’s enough and we know that,” coach Ten Hag said. “We were in the game and in a few minutes we gave it away. “
“It’s under our criteria and we know it and we have to take responsibility for it. “
Erik ten Hag questions Man Utd’s rallying cry as tension mounts over embattled manager
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