Glum Erik ten Hag arrives for Man United training bright and early after 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Tottenham as under-pressure Dutchman attempts to save his job

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was at the club’s Carrington training ground bright and early on Monday morning as he aimed to put the weekend’s 3-0 thrashing by Tottenham behind him.

The Dutchman is the bookmakers’ favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave his position, after seeing his United side take just seven points from their opening six games.

Ten Hag wore a glum expression on his face as he was pictured driving into Carrington while it was still dark outside.

He had been asked about his future following Sunday’s defeat at Old Trafford. But he replied: ‘No, I am not thinking about this.

‘We all made together this decision to stay together, as an ownership, a leadership group in the summer, also we made the decision from a clear review what we have to improve and how we want to construct a squad.

Ten Hag was pictured driving into United’s Carrington training ground while it was still dark

The Dutchman has a lot of work on his hands following a disappointing start to the season

‘But we knew it will take some time, how the window went, some players late in like Ugarte. Also, we have to make some improvement in organisation, some injuries, we need some time.

‘We are all on one page or in one boat together – the ownership, the staff and the players as well. I don’t have that concern.’

Ten Hag came close to losing his job at the end of last season after he oversaw United’s lowest finish in Premier League history (eighth) – although he then won the FA Cup.

United’s owners, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, looked for possible replacements before ultimately deciding in July to stick with Ten Hag, whose contract was extended until June 2026.

Ten Hag was also backed in the transfer market this summer, with United bringing in Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte.

Four of those players featured against Spurs, with only Yoro missing due to a foot injury sustained in pre-season.

Ten Hag pictured at Old Trafford on Sunday following his team’s 3-0 defeat by Tottenham

Alejandro Garnacho (front) and Matthijs de Ligt pictured applauding fans after the game

Striker Dominic Solanke pictured (centre) scoring Tottenham’s third and final goal on Sunday

But United were vastly inferior to Tottenham, who should have been more than 1-0 in front by the time Bruno Fernandes was shown a questionable red card for a foul on James Maddison in the 42nd minute.

Having been dominant against United’s 11 men, Spurs continued to boss the contest against 10 as Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke joined Brennan Johnson on the scoresheet at Old Trafford.

Speaking on Sky Sports on Sunday evening, Jamie Redknapp described United’s latest display as ‘the sort of performance that gets the manager the sack’.

Former Spurs and Liverpool captain Redknapp also said: ‘When your club are actively looking for another manager, you’re in a massively untenable position because the players know that you’re not the man. You cannot keep the manager after looking for other managers.

‘They’re playing like they’re lost. The players that they’ve brought in don’t look right. This club has a DNA of attacking. I see too many players not putting that extra effort in. This club is not built like that.

‘I don’t see how he can keep his job with these performances. I don’t know how he can turn it around. I know he won two trophies last year but I don’t know how he can take them forward, but I don’t know who is.

‘They’ve scored five goals in six games, Man United. This is a graveyard for great players. Anyone that comes here just goes downhill. Everyone is so devoid of confidence and belief.’

Brennan Johnson (left) and Dejan Kulusevski (right) also found the net for Spurs at Old Trafford

Two of Tottenham’s goals came after United captain Bruno Fernandes (right) had been sent off

Jamie Redknapp said United put in ‘the sort of performance that gets the manager the sack’

Fellow Sky pundit Gary Neville, a club legend at United, also tore into Ten Hag’s team on Sunday.

Speaking at half-time, Neville called United an ‘absolute disgrace’.

He added: ‘Probably one of the worst halves I’ve seen under Ten Hag and that’s saying something.

‘[Ten Hag] can’t believe what he’s watching. I can’t believe what I’m watching, it’s awful. It really is bad.

‘I’m not even talking about scoring goals, I’m talking about the basics. They look shot to pieces, the lot of them.’

Neville continued: ‘I suspect there were better Sunday league teams this morning than what we’ve seen from United this first half. Pub football.’

Gary Neville said that United’s first-half performance was among the worst of Ten Hag’s tenure 

Neville said at half-time: ‘I suspect there were better Sunday league teams this morning’

The former United captain had more to say at full-time. ‘Brilliant from Tottenham. They were outstanding, they played really good football from minute one,’ Neville admitted. 

‘For United, the big story today is in that first half they have chosen to put in the very worst possible performance. 

‘It was an absolutely disgusting performance in that first half in effort, quality, everything you would want from a football team. Questions are going to be asked of that manager and the team.’

United now face two tough-looking away games – first at Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, before they go to Aston Villa in the Premier League next weekend.