Erik Ten Hag seeks redemption at Porto as the axe looms

Erik Ten Hag's job is going to be underlined by whatever happens at Porto and Villa Park, will he survive the axe? (Photo credit: BBC)

Manchester United’s Erik Ten Hag insists his job is safe but admits his team must show character at Porto in their Europa League game on Thursday.

Ten Hag is under fire after seeing his team lose scandalously at Old Trafford against Tottenham, the second time this season that the Red Devils have shipped three home without reply. United has only won twice in the league, losing half of the three games they've played so far.

One thing that stays consistent in the three games United has lost in the league this season is their defensive shape when they don’t have the ball; opposing players always have a free road to Manchester United’s box, with Micky Van de Ven’s run at the weekend coming to mind.

Ten Hag criticized United's behavior against FC Twente, but he was shocked to see the same behavior against Tottenham, which left United in the bottom half of the Premier League table, eight points off the top of the log.

"We talk every day," Ten Hag told a news conference on Wednesday. "It's a long-term project. It's a long-term union. We will continue with that process. We will talk every day. Every day, we will evaluate and review the process, and where necessary, we will make our own decisions.

"As always, when we don't win, we feel deeply disappointed, and we become extremely angry, especially when we lose a game like Sunday." We are furious, and from this madness, we must draw motivation and move on to the next game.

FC Porto presents a significant opportunity for United to win back the support of their fans, as thousands of fans are expected to travel to Portugal for the Europa League game, with the hope that their team will deliver an exciting performance for once this season.

They can contend that Cameron Archer's penalty miss sparked the 3-0 victory over Southampton, while the victory over Fulham on the first day was more of a fortuitous victory; they haven't seen their players shine yet, and Thursday presents a valuable chance to restore some pride.

At the weekend, before the recess, United will travel to Villa Park, and they have always found ways to beat Aston Villa regardless of their form, but with Unai Emery's team on fire at the moment, that could be the game that defines Ten Hag's position at Old Trafford.