- Ten Hag under pressure as United suffer worst start to previous season
- Moyes, who managed United between 2013 and 14, gave his support to the Dutchman
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David Moyes praised Erik ten Hag as the Manchester United manager remains under pressure for his job.
The Unders are 14th in the league standings and are enduring their worst start to a season in the Premier League, having also suffered their worst finish last season when they finished eighth.
The pressure continues to mount on Ten Hag to deliver results, with United drawing 0-0 with Aston Villa last time out after blowing a two-goal lead at Porto in the Europa League.
However, United executives continue to insist that the Dutchman has their backing, and will now take the international break to work on improving United’s campaign.
And although he has come under fire for his recent work from a number of pundits and fans, former United manager David Moyes praised the 54-year-old and highlighted a key characteristic that has apparently served him well.
David Moyes (left) has insisted that Erik ten Hag (right) is doing “a brilliant job” as Manchester United manager.
Ten Hag remains under pressure for his job amid United’s worst start to a Premier League season
The Red Devils are 14th in the Premier League standings after finishing eighth last season
“I think he’s doing a brilliant job,” Moyes, who briefly managed United between 2013 and 2014 after Sir Alex Ferguson retired, told BBC Sport. “I think he has shown brilliant resilience in the situation he finds himself in and I think he should be recognized for how well he has behaved.”
“As far as I know, I don’t see him avoiding any questions or interviews that you (the media) have asked him,” he added.
“I think you have to give him a lot of credit for that, but it’s a job that will attract immense pressure, people talking, so I have to say I think he’s doing a brilliant job.”
Moyes was Ferguson’s successor but lasted just nine months and 51 games before being relieved of his duties and replaced by Louis van Gaal.
He went on to coach teams such as Sunderland and Real Sociedad, but has been synonymous with his time as West Ham manager, having managed the team in two spells between 2017 and 2024.
Although United are now under different leadership off the field – INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe – Moyes knows the pressure that comes with being in charge of United.
Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson as United manager in 2013 but lasted less than a year.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (left) will be present at a United board meeting in London on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, reports on Monday suggested that Thomas Tuchel is being lined up as Ten Hag’s replacement should the club look to make a move.
Before the game against Villa, Ratcliffe was asked if he still supported Ten Hag, and responded via the BBC: “I don’t want to answer that question.
‘I like Erick. “I think he is a very good manager, but at the end of the day it is not my decision, it is the management team that runs Manchester United that has to decide how to best manage the team in many different aspects.”
United will hold a board meeting in London on Tuesday.