Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has backed manager Erik ten Hag following a difficult start to the season that has seen the team lose as many Premier League games as it has won.
United started last season poorly with back-to-back Premier League defeats against Brighton and Brentford, but significant progress was ultimately made and Ten Hag delivered both a top three finish and the club’s first trophy in six years in the shape of the Carabao Cup.
Off the back of that, there was hope that United would kick on in 2023/24. But things haven’t been as simple. The early weeks of the season have been defined by setbacks with defeats to Tottenham, Arsenal and Brighton, as well as Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Victories over Wolves and Burnley have been narrow, while it took a comeback from 2-0 down to beat Nottingham Forest.
Injuries and other problems have also affected player availability, adding to the headache.
But Evans, who has returned to United on a one-year contract and made a huge impact against Burnley on what was his 200th appearance and more than 3,000 days after his last start for the club, insists that a rollercoaster ride is all part and parcel of the process.
“I’ve had some up and down moments at Man United over the years,” he said, via the Mirror. “I think you get that if you want to be at the top. You know, it’s going to be very up and down.
“You’ve got to be able to deal with setbacks and this club is a fantastic club, always want to be challenging at the top, so it’s all part and parcel of it. The manager’s got a good thing going here.”
Between now and the end of October, six of United’s seven games across three competitions are all at home, including a Carabao Cup tie with Crystal Palace, Champions League clashes with Galatasaray and Copenhagen, and the first Manchester derby of the season.
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