Erik ten Hag is backed by Tom Huddlestone to keep his Manchester United job as the former U21 coach says getting the club back into the competition will be a ‘long process’

Erik ten Hag has been backed by Tom Huddlestone to keep his job amid growing uncertainty over the Dutchman’s future.

Manchester United are currently reviewing ten Hag’s status at the club, but Huddlestone – a player-coach of the club’s U21s until last month – believes United are on a “positive trajectory” with their current manager.

“This year, they’ve been hit by injuries and not only the injuries, like every other team, it’s been bad, but it’s always been in the same sort of position, which has been in defence,” Huddlestone began in an exclusive chat with the Mail Sports.

“So I guess that would be a thing.” If everyone can stay fit, I think the club’s trajectory under this management is a positive one.

He continued: “I think it’s going to be a long process overall… I think the manager at the moment, especially last season when he fit the starting XI, they’re as good as most teams in the league.” .

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Ten Hag’s second season at United has seen three of his favorite four miss significant time with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw all dealing with long-term injuries.

Harry Maguire also missed time with calf and groin injuries, while new signing Mason Mount missed four months with a calf injury of his own.

With Varane and Martinez back in the line-up, United deservedly beat rivals Man City in the FA Cup final (after finishing eighth in the league), although it may not save Ten Hag’s job as the club have earmarked Gareth Southgate to replace him, according to the independent.

Huddlestone, who began working with the U21s in 2022, also spoke of a “perfect two years” in the player-coach role he has filled.

“For someone like me who wants to get into coaching longer term and eventually into management, I think when you come towards the end of your career, that role is kind of the perfect transition season or two,” he said. he said as he spoke. from the North Carolina Football Tournament.

“Because when you’re playing … you take advantage of a lot of the things that happen behind the scenes. Training hours, understanding why coaches do certain sessions, setting up sessions, analyzing sessions afterwards and all the preparation that goes into the opposition, from match to match. ‘

“So it was excellent to see that side of her. And it gave me a real hunger to advance my coaching career. And as I say, in two, three, four years, whatever, I hope you’ll be a manager one day.

For now, the former England midfielder looks set to continue playing and has high hopes for the Three Lions at this summer’s Euros.

“In my lifetime, I think England every tournament they’ve been in (they’ve) probably been favourites.

“I think England have come so close recently in major tournaments for the first time in a long time – not now or never, but it almost feels like it with this group of players … especially in attacking areas, then it has to happen something special. . And no better place for England to win it than in Germany.