Erik ten Hag insists his players are not inhibited by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s impending arrival at Manchester United.
But the Dutchman’s claim that the Reds have improved since last season may not impress the billionaire tasked with bringing the glory days back to Old Trafford. United have won their last three games after a wretched start to the season which saw them beaten in four of their opening eight Premier League outings and defeated in the Champions League by Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
There have been suggestions that Ratcliffe, who is closing in on a £1.3billion deal to buy a 25 percent stake in the club, is already running the rule over Ten Hag’s players and the manager himself ahead of assuming control of United’s football operations.
However, Ten Hag insists that statistics prove that United are the pressing kings of the Premier League – despite mediocre performances prompting a scathing assessment from TV pundit Jamie Carragher that the Reds have gone backwards.
Ten Hag said: “They (the players) are committed to the club – but especially they are committed to this team.
“They want to be successful and are therefore aware you need the team, your team-mates and cooperation. When the cooperation is growing, you will play better. That is how the players are thinking – and they are not thinking about strategic reviews or structures or whatever.
“I have said that in possession we have to do better. But there are reasons for that. It is something I am not going into, but everyone can see why. But there are also facts so I disagree (with Carragher). We are much better.