Manchester United are ‘mad and motivated’ insists Erik ten Hag

Erik ten Hag has stated that Manchester United are “mad” at losing 3-0 against Tottenham on Sunday and must use it as motivation against Porto on Thursday in a game the manager may need to win to keep his job.

United’s woeful display against Spurs has left Ten Hag’s position in the balance and, with the team down in 13th place in the Premier League, he desperately needs a reaction in the Europa League on Thursday.

Related: After dismal home displays, how secure is Erik ten Hag at Manchester United? | Jamie Jackson

“As always when we are not winning, we are very disappointed and we are also mad; mad with ­ourselves and especially when you lose a game like Sunday,” Ten Hag said. “Also, when you had to play such a long time with 10 players and after the [Bruno Fernandes] red card is overturned that gives frustration because such a long time to play with 10 is of course never in your advantage and it had a real impact on the game but you have to deal with it. We are mad and from the madness we have to get motivation and go on to the next game.”

United’s Sir Jim Ratcliffe-controlled football department, which is led by Dan Ashworth, the ­sporting director, and the technical director, Jason Wilcox, will assess the team’s response in the upcoming games at Porto and then Aston Villa on Sunday before any decision regarding the manager’s future. Ten Hag was asked if he had received any assurances from them since Sunday that his job was safe.

“We talk every day,” Ten Hag said. “We are on a common journey – we made that agreement in the summer.

“Everyone has to take responsibility, and that starts with me as a manager. But also on the pitch.”

Earlier in the day Ten Hag told Sky Sports: “This is nothing for me to panic about because I experienced it so often with my teams during seasons that you are facing those problems.”