EriktenHagdeservestobegivenmoretimebyManchesterUnited,whereoff-pitchdisruptionhashamperedtheDutchman’sattemptstoinstilhispreferredstyle.

ThatistheviewofformerNetherlandsinternationalUrbyEmanuelson,whoworkedwithTenHagatUtrechtandbelieveshecanachievelong-termsuccessundertheJimRatclifferegime.

TenHagisunderpressureamidanunderwhelmingsecondcampaignatOldTrafford,withUnitedsufferinganearlyChampionsLeagueexitandlanguishing11pointsadriftofthePremierLeague’stopfour.

United’stotalof12PremierLeaguedefeatsthisseasonistheirjoint-mostinasinglecampaign(with2013-14and2021-22),whileTenHag’ssidehavealsobeencriticisedforaperceivedlackofoff-the-ballorganisation.

OnlybottomclubSheffieldUnited(560)havefacedmoreshotsthantheRedDevils’554inthePremierLeaguethisseason,whiletheirexpectedgoalsagainst(xGA)figureof58.2isalsothethird-highestinthecompetition.

WhileTenHagrecentlysaidhehas"nodoubts"overhisfuture,GarethSouthgate,GrahamPotterandGaryO’NeilhavebeentoutedaspossiblesuccessorsifRatcliffe–whorecentlyacquiredaminoritystakeintheclubfromtheGlazerfamily–makesachange.

Emanuelson,though,thinksTenHagdeservesmoretime.

FCUS#MUFCpic.twitter.com/NOK2WtjP46

—ManchesterUnited(@ManUtd)April11,2024

"IworkedwithhimatFCUtrechtinthelastfewseasonsofmycareer,andIhavetosayhe’sanamazingcoachinthewayhecanprepareateam.It’samazing,"hetoldStatsPerform.

"Ithinkhe’sdoingwellatManchesterUnited.It’sdifficulttobeacoachofManchesterUnited,especiallyintheperiodtheyareinwiththatclub.

"YouknowtherearealotofthingsgoingoninManchester,soit’snoteasynottobeacoachthereandIthinkhe’sdoingwell.

"Ofcourse,youcannotwineverythingbecausethePremierLeagueisatoughleague,buthe’stryingtogethisteamready.He’stryingtolettheclub,oratleasttheteam,growtoadifferentlevelthanwheretheywereat."

UnitedaremajoroutsidersintheraceforChampionsLeaguequalificationafterbeingpeggedbackinanentertaining2-2drawwithLiverpoollastSunday.

62-Liverpoolhad62shotsintheirtwoPremierLeaguematchesagainstManUtdthisseason(34Anfield,28OldTrafford);nosidehaseverhadmoreagainstasingleopponentinaseasononrecord(from2003-04)inthecompetition.Peppered.pic.twitter.com/SVW2JAt6O6

—OptaJoe(@OptaJoe)April7,2024

Withsevengamestoplay,theysit11pointsadriftofTottenhaminfourthandAstonVillainfifth,withEnglandpotentiallyreceivinganadditionalspotthroughUEFA’scoefficientrankings.

EmanuelsonhasnotgivenuphopeoftheRedDevilsmakingit,saying:"Ijusthopehefinishestheseasoninagoodwayandtheyendupinthetopfour.Iwishhimallthebest.

"Ihaveagoodrelationshipwithhim,andIjusthopehegetsthetimeheneedstoturnthingsaround,andIhopehewillgettheresultshewants."