ERIK TEN HAG’S close friend told him to leave Manchester United in the summer.
The Red Devils boss came close to losing his job days after winning the FA Cup in May.
United chiefs considered his position before deciding to continue with Ten Hag at the helm, but poor form this season means the Dutchman is under renewed scrutiny.
He reportedly has one match to save his job and a heavy defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday could see him fired.
Close friend Leon Ten Voorde believes it is a “miracle” Ten Hag is still in his post and revealed he advised him to leave in the summer.
He told the De Ballen Verstand of TC Tubantia podcast: “I advised him to leave last summer.
“He won the FA Cup, so you leave through the front door.
“He’s had a lot of injuries this past year. But then trainers think: ‘I can turn things around’.
“How long does United think this can go on?
“That question is now hanging over United and Ten Hag again.
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“In general, he is calm and relaxed. But I can’t imagine that this leaves you completely unaffected.”
However Ten Hag is confident he will turn things around at Old Trafford and he has been keen to point out his trophy record at the club.
He also called for judgement of the team to be reserved until later this season, adding: “We will get there. Don’t judge us in this moment. Judge us at the end of the season.
“We are in the process and we will improve. We are now two seasons where we achieve finals. We have to develop and progress this team…
I advised him to leave last summer. He won the FA Cup, so you leave through the front door.
Leon Ten Voorde
“We will work and we will continue and we will fight. You see the spirit and the connection between the staff and the team. Between the players, together, there’s a strong spirit.
“We want to achieve and we are in that [same] direction. We have that mentality and spirit-wise, but especially in some defending parts, we have to step up.”
