Simon Jordan backs Ratcliffe's controversial comment on Erik ten Hag after Aston Villa result

Former Crystal Palace chairman turned talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has backed Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments on the future of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

The Dutchman is under pressure at Old Trafford after yet another terrible start to a Premier League campaign.

Ten Hag oversaw Man United’s worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign last term after picking up just nine points from the opening seven games.

The former Ajax manager has managed to beat his own awful record after accumulating just eight points from seven games this term.

When asked about Ten Hag’s future during an interview with BBC before the goalless draw against Aston Villa, Ratcliffe said: “I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach, but at the end of the day, it’s not my call.

“It’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that has to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.”

Jordan, who has plenty of experience as a club owner, backed Ratcliffe’s comment.

“He has employed highly paid people to make those decisions,” Jordan said on talkSPORT.

“When I appointed a chief executive, and I spent time with him, I took his counsel. If I felt that his counsel was wrong, then I made a different judgement.

“Ratcliffe is not abdicating authority – he’s stating the facts. The facts of the matter are that it’s very early in his tenure and the new management team’s tenure.”

Man United’s goalless draw against Villa extended their awful run of form under Ten Hag’s leadership. They head into the international break with a hugely concerning five-match winless run.

The Red Devils have won just three of their ten matches across all competitions this season, and Ten Hag is starting to feel the heat.

The club’s hierarchy could make a decision on his future, with former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel lined up as a potential successor.

After the two-week hiatus, Man United return to Premier League action with a tricky test against Brentford at Old Trafford.