Erik ten Hag has thanked the fans for their endorsement after they demanded he is backed following the club’s impending takeover.
Manchester United are the subject of takeover bids, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos and Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani having both confirmed they have lodged offers to take over the club.
Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) last week released a statement reiterating their concerns and their desires about the club’s potential future owners, with ‘sporting integrity’ and LGBTQ+ issues among their concerns about the bid from Qatar.
Following two early season defeats, it has been a largely positive season for United under Erik ten Hag, with the club still in all four competitions and looking a good bet to finish in the top four.
Managers, however, are often the first to feel the heat following takeovers, and MUST ended their statement to insist that any new owners ‘explicitly’ back the Dutchman.
“Everyone can see the progress the team is making under Erik ten Hag,” reads the statement. “After the frustrations of the last decade, it is clear that enormous strides are being taken.
“Any prospective bidder needs to explicitly commit to backing Erik and his plans to restore United to glory.”
Asked about the takeover and the comments from the fans group, Ten Hag was pleased to receive the backing of the supporters, but insisted he has no influence on the takeover.
“I thank the fans when they have their trust in me,” Ten Hag said. “I feel committed with this club, I love to be here but it [what happens with any takeover] is not in my influence.
“What I can influence is the performance of this team and I will give everything to perform as well as possible and to bring them hopefully across limits.”
