As he gets ready to put additional pressure on the Manchester United manager this weekend, Brentford manager Thomas Frank maintains that Erik ten Hag has received “too much” criticism.
After United’s worst start to a top-flight season since 1989–1990, Ten Hag is fighting to stay in his job.
Frank’s team is three places ahead of United, who are wallowing in 14th position after winning only two of their first seven league games, when they visit Old Trafford on Saturday.
Ten Hag would be closer to the chopping block should Brentford lose, but Frank believes the Dutchman isn’t worthy of this kind of rigorous examination.
“It’s incredible how much scrutiny he’s had to face,” Frank said.
“As a head coach, I acknowledge how it feels to be in a situation like this.
” I think the criticism is too much.
“He’s clearly a good coach, he’s won two trophies in two seasons.
“But I understand how it is: if the team wins, the head coach is absolutely fantastic; if the team loses, the head coach is absolutely s**t! Whereas it’s probably somewhere in between.
“It’s never only the head coach, or the players, or the fans, or the board, it’s a combination of all of these things.”
Frank stated that despite United’s five games without a victory across all competitions, he will not be concerned about their recent performance.
“I’ve experienced it too many times in my career: we face a team that has lost three games in a row but they come out absolutely flying,” he said.
“I don’t really pay too much attention to form. I believe that we can go anywhere and beat any team, but I’m also aware that, when we go to Old Trafford to face Manchester United – a massive club with top players – they are favourites.
“But we need to go there with the approach and mindset that we can win.”
