Brentford Head Coach, Thomas Frank believes that Erik Ten Hag gets “too much” criticism at Manchester United.
Frank’s Bees head to Man Utd on Saturday (19 October) sat in 11th position in the Premier League, and two points clear of the 14th-placed Red Devils – who are currently enduring their worst start to a league campaign since 1989-90 season.
Utd officials even met to discuss Ten Hag’s future during the international break aa fans continued to turn on the Dutchman, which has left Frank sympathising as he feels that criticism “is too much” but knows what it feels like.
“It’s incredible how much scrutiny he’s had to face. As a head coach, I acknowledge how it feels to be in a situation like this.
“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***! 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.”
Turning his attention to the game, Frank is wary of the fact that Utd could come out fighting, despite taking one win in their last five league matches and has vowed that form doesn’t bother him.
“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.
“Then, other times, we play a team that has won five games in a row but we beat them.
“I don’t really pay too much attention to [form]. The only thing I focus on is how we can make sure we are up there and how we can do everything we can to perform and come out flying – and hopefully we score early again!”
The Dane is therefore confident that his team can go to Old Trafford and get a result if they can apply themselves in terms of tactics.
“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.
“We try to come up with a gameplan that will optimise our chances of winning. That’s my approach to every game.”
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