NO NEED TO PANIC

Horror start and transfer woes but Ten Hag insists everyone’s calm at United

ERIK TEN HAG says there is no panic at Manchester United over their poor start to the season and criticism of the club’s transfer policy.

The Dutchman’s side travel to Brentford today in the 5.30pm kick-off desperate for a victory after a shock 2-1 opening-day defeat by Brighton and Hove albion at Old Trafford last weekend.

United were also forced to ditch their bid to sign veteran former Stoke and West Ham striker Marko arnautovic, 33, following a backlash from supporters — and have faced questions over their pursuit of the troublesome Juventus midfielder adrien Rabiot.

Former United favourite and MUTV pundit Lou Macari echoed those concerns yesterday by telling the club’s in- house television station that he has never heard of Rabiot, adding: ‘I’ve got a bad feeling about the guy.’

However, Ten Hag insists no one at United is panicking at the end of a difficult week.

‘When Manchester United are not performing, not winning, that’s normal,’ said the United boss.

‘I would be more in panic if there wasn’t panic — because we have to win. That is the demand. Still, I would say panic isn’t the right word. It’s more like, “Come on, we have to act”. We have to think bright and do the right things.’

Ten Hag also expects Marcus Rashford to remain at United despite interest from Paris Saintgermain, saying: ‘I’m really happy with him, I don’t want to lose him.’

AS if a nightmare start to the season and a fan revolt weren’t worrying enough for Manchester United, the club’s in-house TV station chose a bad time to go off-message yesterday.

Discussing United’s bid to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot in a £15.2million deal, former Old Trafford favourite and popular MUTV pundit Lou Macari was perhaps a little too candid in his assessment of the situation.

‘I’d never really heard of him,’ said the 73-year-old Scot (right). ‘Clubs spend millions of pounds to put scouts out there all around Europe to keep an eye on players. No one has made a move for this fella. Why? I’ve got a bad feeling about the guy.’

For a club still reeling from an opening- day defeat by Brighton and a tough week in which they have faced more anti- Glazer protests and a backlash from supporters over attempts to sign veteran striker Marko Arnautovic, it was not what United would have wanted to hear.

The club were already pushing back against suggestions they have made a last-minute switch to Rabiot because it seems unlikely that first- choice midfield target Frenkie de Jong will move to Old Trafford from Barcelona. Sources insist Rabiot has been on their list all summer and that signing the 27-year- old does not preclude getting De Jong as well.

But Macari’s comments added to the sense of discord at a club that feels like it is only a couple of bad results away from a full-blown crisis — and we’re only in mid-August.

If there is panic behind the scenes at United, however, manager Erik ten Hag wasn’t showing it ahead of today’s trip to Brentford.

‘When Manchester United are not performing, not winning, that’s normal,’ smiled Ten Hag. ‘I would be more in panic when there wasn’t panic because we have to win. That is the demand. Still, I would say panic isn’t the right word. It’s more like, “Come on, we have to act”. We have to do the right things. There is always pressure.

‘Everyone expects Manchester United to win every game. We have to deal with that.’

Asked if he thinks the United board will provide him with a stronger squad before the transfer window closes as they attempt to sign a midfielder and forward, Ten Hag replied: ‘We have to. I am convinced we will have. We co- operate well and it is to my satisfaction. It would be my preference (to sign players sooner) because we could be starting the process earlier.

‘ In the midfield and offence departments, you have seen we have a problem when we have one injury, that’s clear.’

Ten Hag was referring to Anthony Martial’s hamstring strain which will keep him out of today’s game and once again leaves the manager with a decision to make over Cristiano Ronaldo.

Can he start a player who wants to leave the club? ‘That is not what he is telling me,’ said Ten Hag. ‘We have to fit him into the team. He has to have the right fitness levels so he can do the job we expect.’

Ten Hag had to address the future of another of his forwards yesterday after it emerged that Marcus Rashford’s representatives met with Paris SaintGermain last week. It’s understood that Rashford, who is under contract for another two years, doesn’t want to leave.

‘I don’t want to lose him, he’s definitely in our plans,’ added Ten Hag. ‘He knows I love him, he knows I want him to be here at Manchester United, so I will tell him that again.’