Sir Alex Ferguson’s distraction ploy saw me go on TV to defend the media – now Ten Hag is following suit at Man Utd

FOR A MAN who seems to be taking a long walk to the gallows every time he attends a press conference, Erik ten Hag keeps on smiling.

It is an old trick with managers under severe pressure, trying to show the world that there is no problem.

Indeed, Sir Alex Ferguson himself would often be more chatty in press conferences in his rare times of crisis.

He would arrive with an agenda to take the focus fully away from his team’s ­performance that midweek if it had raised headlines.

Like when after one European exit in December 2005 he began a week-long debate as to whether the national press “hated” Manchester United, which the Scotsman claimed.

They never have but Fergie got the debate raging anyway — and I was interviewed by Sky on the matter, vehemently defending our industry.

Sky were then contacted by Manchester United asking why they had put me on the telly.

Strangely enough, the group-stage exit following the 2-1 defeat at Benfica earlier in the week was suddenly forgotten.

Quite what Ten Hag will be able to do if another home defeat, this time at the hands of Brentford, befalls him at Old Trafford this afternoon is another thing.

Sir Alex had plenty in the bank to ride out times of trouble.

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Ten Hag would like to think his two trophies in two years as manager have given him the same. Doubtful.

United are currently 14th in the Premier League with just two wins from seven games. While in Europe they have drawn with FC Twente and Porto.

But the Dutchman took a leaf out of Fergie’s book at Carrington yesterday, turning the whole debate around on the media over stories going into the international break that he was on the brink of getting the boot.

Ten Hag said: “The only noise is only coming from the media. Bringing up stories, creating stories, making fairytales, because we are all on one page this club.

“I said that before the break, and several journalists didn’t believe me, I see the reports but in the club it’s quiet.”

There are seven games before the next international break but Ten Hag insists even they will not decide his future.

He said: “We are calm but we’re not happy. That is also for sure. No one, not the players and staff, not the leadership, not the board is happy with this position but we know what we’re doing.

“We know also the reasons why we have to change. But we are calm in our strategy and we are convinced that we are getting to where we want to be and we can make the season a success.

“That is independent to what will happen in the next seven games.

“We stick to the plan and we are convinced we will make it a success.”

The support Ten Hag believes he has behind the scenes from the new “management team” under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s part-ownership of the club is certainly not replicated in public.

The most damning statement recently came when Sir Jim washed his hands of any decision on Ten Hag’s future.

Ratcliffe said: “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 have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.”

At least Thomas Tuchel was taken out of the equation this week after he became England manager — a decision Ten Hag seemed pleased with.

He said: “I think it’s a very good choice from the FA. He is a top-class manager who has proved himself, creating top teams, creating teams who win.”

The England post has been called the “impossible job” but is still a far easier one than anyone faces at Old Trafford.

Which is why there was nobody tripping over themselves to take it in the summer when Sir Jim and his right-hand man Sir David Brailsford did a supermarket sweep of available bosses in Europe.

The new contract Ten Hag signed wasn’t really new, just an extension of the old one. So he was in a tenuous position from the off.

Still, he has remained admirably stoic, claiming things are on the right path ahead of today’s visit of Thomas Frank’s Brentford.

United go into the game without Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire, the England pair are both sidelined for a fortnight by injury.

But there is good news on Moroccan full-back Noussair Mazraoui, who is available after a procedure on his heart.

That is good for the defence but it is the other end of the pitch which is the problem — with United netting just five goals in their seven top-flight games.

Ten Hag said: “In general, the players do perform well and we have to start scoring.

“That part is the most important part in football if you want to win games.

“That part we have to improve. We are entering the final third, the box, we are coming in good positions to score but now the most important part is to net.”

It would certainly help, Erik.