Erik ten Hag says Jose Mourinho is the only Manchester United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired to have enjoyed the full backing of the club in the transfer market.
Mourinho — who won the Europa League and League Cup during a two-year spell in charge at Old Trafford — claimed last month in an interview with the Telegraph that he was not afforded the same “trust” as Ten Hag.
“What Ten Hag has in his time at Manchester United I didn’t have. I didn’t have that level of support. I didn’t have that level of trust,” he said.
He added: “I felt if they trusted me and believed in my experience things could be different.”
In response, Ten Hag said Mourinho was given unprecedented backing by United’s hierarchy.
“Apart from Mourinho, the manager didn’t get the players they wanted, and that is what you need,” he told ESPN Brazil.
“I am confident we will achieve our goals, but it is a tough competition. It is not a two-horse race anymore,” he continued.
“There are seven, eight [teams in the Premier League] who all go for the title, who all have very good squads. So if you want to go to the title, you have to construct that squad.”
The Athletic reported on Sunday that Ten Hag has told INEOS they need to add more depth to his squad in the summer.
Ten Hag’s future is one of the crucial issues for INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe and director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford. No decision has been made but planning for next season is happening with Ten Hag at the helm.
United — eighth in the table, 13 points back from fourth-placed Aston Villa — are next in action against Crystal Palace tonight.
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