Jonny Evans has told Manchester United’s owners “It’s on our minds too” with the centre-back revealing the impact uncertainty surrounding Erik ten Hag has on the team.
After a series of disappointing results that saw the Red Devils endure their poorest start in Premier League history, the Dutch boss is facing immense scrutiny, with reports indicating that fixtures against Porto and Aston Villa could make or break his tenure.
Despite battling for draws in both matches, United failed to clinch victories, squandering a lead in Portugal and drawing a blank at Villa Park.
Evans spoke candidly after the Villa draw, noting Ten Hag’s visible emotional turmoil following the Porto match: “You see the fans at the end, the support they give the team. They have supported the players massively over the years.
“It was great for him [Ten Hag] to see that. The other night he got a bit emotional, you could see it on him, letting that game slip away. You could see everyone was running into the ground to get a half-decent result.”
He keenly acknowledged the psychological burden borne by the players due to the managerial instability, despite his attempts to maintain professionalism: “It does affect the players. It’s on our minds too. I think the more experience I’ve got in my career I’ve made sure I do everything you do to be ready and give everything I can to the team.”
Evans, who was unexpectedly included in the Red Devils’ line-up on Sunday, delivered a stellar performance that earned him the man-of-the-match award. This marked his first Premier League start of the season.
Discussing his return to the team, the Northern Irishman expressed: “I still feel like I’m playing the game I always have, I still feel like I have speed in the legs to get me out of the bad moments.
“[Erik ten Hag] told me after the game the other night I’d play in this one. Even the match against Porto I wasn’t expecting to come on. It’s unlikely to have a double centre-back substitution. Every match I play now I just enjoy it. It’s still a privilege to play for this club. The pressures that come with it, it’s part of it.”
