06 March 2024 , 03:00
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Manchester United are in the midst of bouncing back from a devastating derby defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
Everton await in the Premier League this weekend after Marcus Rashford's strike was unable to spark victory at the Etihad Stadium. The Red Devils welcome the Toffees to Old Trafford on Saturday looking to cut the 11-point gap to the top four.
Pressure mounts on Erik ten Hag and his United team as they attempt to qualify for the Champions League once again. Scrutiny on every area of the club has intensified since Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment in the side.
With all of that said, Mirror Football rounds up all the latest news from in and around Old Trafford below.
Sacking expected
It has been suggested that members of Manchester United's squad believe that Erik ten Hag will be sacked by the club's new hierarchy at the end of the season.
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Reports say that Ten Hag has 'confided to coaching staff and agents that he has no guarantees over his future'. Publically however, the Dutch is displaying a more confident front.
When asked about Ratcliffe's refusal to publicly back him ahead of the Manchester derby, Ten Hag said: "I'm here, I'm under contract for three seasons, so I don't care
Erik ten Hag shows his frustration after Walker's challenge on Rashford (REX/Shutterstock)"I am in this process, I'm only focusing on the process, so I don't care what's going on around me. I have had many talks with Sir Jim Radcliffe, also with Sir Dave Brailsford and others in that group.
"So I know where we are talking about and I have a strong belief and I feel that they believe in me. But I'm not focusing about my personal circumstances. I'm just focusing on the team and I have to find solutions for this team so that they perform the best way they can."
READ MORE ABOUT ERIK TEN HAG'S FUTURE
Ratcliffe loss
United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has seen his net worth drop by more than £1.5billion.
Bloomberg Billionaires Index suggests that the INEOS chief has an overall worth of £13.87bn having taken a 27.7 per cent stake at Old Trafford. That has seen him fall eight places in the list.
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has been assessed as having the same worth as Ratcliffe, though his figure is unchanged over the last 12 months, but surpassed the new addition to the Premier League's owners list. However the combined wealth of Ratcliffe and the Glazer family is estimated to be in the region of £22bn.
Hojlund verdict
United striker Rasmus Hojlund missed the club's defeat to Manchester City this weekend but has nevertheless drawn praise from treble-winner Andy Cole.
The former forward, who sits fourth on the list of Premier League all-time goalscorers, believes that Hojlund's confidence has made a big difference after a slow start domestically. "He was a young man under a lot of pressure, with a big price-tag, in a team that wasn't creating many chances," said Cole.
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Rasmus Hojlund was in great form before his injury (Getty Images)"I think it's a good thing for him as now he's got that confidence. Confidence is a massive thing in football. He got off the mark against Villa and the goals have continued since then. For me, personally, I just want to see him continue to do that.
"Yeah, there's going to be a time when he's not scoring goals, it's part and parcel of football but, so long as he keeps doing the right things, he'll be okay."
Cole stopped short of providing Hojlund with a target and instead focused on what the team must achieve. The ex-Newcastle striker believes European football is a must for the Red Devils even if they miss the Champions League.
He said: "As many as he can. It's that simple. If you look at it in a broader scope, it's not about one individual scoring as many goals as possible. The position Manchester United find themselves in now is trying to finish in European competition.
"Yeah, naturally, everyone wants the Champions League but, if you don't get in the Champions League, it's being involved in European competition. I think the Champions League goes down to fifth, maybe, but there is a lot of work to do from now until the end of the season, to try to finish fourth or fifth."
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