Erik ten Hag told Manchester United future could rest on two matches amid Christmas sack claim | OneFootball

Pressure immediately on Ten Hag despite summer contract extension

Alan Shearer has claimed only “massive improvement” from Manchester United will prevent Erik ten Hag from losing his job.

United sit 14th in the table after defeats to Brighton and Liverpool, having needed an 87th-minute winner from Joshua Zirkzee to edge past Fulham in their opening match.

Ten Hag initially looked set to lose his job in the summer, after the club finished eighth in the Premier League last season. Victory in the FA Cup final helped his cause, though, and despite United holding talks with several managers over the summer, it was ultimately decided to keep Ten Hag and extend his contract.

“Man United’s results will have to improve massively for Ten Hag to still be at the club at Christmas,” Shearer told Betfair.

Rashford scored only seven Premier League goals last season and is yet to get off the mark in the new campaign, with Shearer believing the forward has made a mistake in not pushing for a move away from Old Trafford.

“In his current form, I don’t see Marcus Rashford reviving his England career,” he said.

“I personally don’t know his mentality, or what his approach is in terms of training, but there's only one way back, which is to train and have the right attitude.

“But looking from the outside, for me, he should have left Man United to reignite his career because he's gone very static for whatever reason, and it hasn't worked for him for a while now.”