ETH insists he 'doesn't care' about job amid claims Ratcliffe wants a new boss

Erik ten Hag insists he doesn’t need a public vote of confidence from new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe as his future at Old Trafford hangs in the balance.

United go to Nottingham Forest in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday hoping to keep alive their last hope of a trophy this season.

Ten Hag’s side then face Manchester City in the Etihad derby on Sunday desperate for a win to revive their bid for Champions League qualification following last weekend’s shock defeat to Fulham.

Ratcliffe gave a lukewarm response to questions over Ten Hag’s future after completing his £1.3billion investment last week, but the United manager believes he has the backing of his new boss.

‘So I'm here. I'm under contract for three seasons, so I don't care,’ said Ten Hag.

‘I’m only focusing on the process, so I don't care what's going on around me. I have many talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, also with Sir Dave Brailsford and others in that group, so I know where we are and I feel that they believe in me.

‘I know what I'm doing. Consistently we have talks, and we're talking about the future together.

‘If you talk about one defeat and the manager's position is in discussion, I think it's quite opportune after two months without a defeat. I can't take it seriously.

‘It would be a problem when the leadership in this group has this approach or, internally, the others would have this approach, but that's not the case. We are together there.

‘It's not about me. I'm not focusing on my personal circumstances, I'm just focusing on the team. It's all about focusing on that and don't get distracted by any noise.’

Of all Ten Hag’s transfer dealings, the £86million paid to his old club Ajax for Antony is likely to give Ratcliffe and Brailsford most cause for concern with United now ready to listen to offers for the Brazil winger.

Antony has started just one of the last eight games since United lost at Forest in the league in December. But Ten Hag leapt to his defence on Tuesday saying the 24-year-old player is only just getting over allegations of domestic abuse made by ex- girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin which he strongly denies.

‘When that issue was in Brazil and he came back, he wasn't like the person he was before. That did something to his belief,’ said Ten Hag.

‘Now he's left this behind, but for a moment in the season it had an impact on him. You could see in his performance, in his attitude, but now he's back. I see it in the training he's doing and he will turn the corner.

‘We will support him, absolutely, all the staff. Me as a manager, I support him and have 100 per cent belief in him.

‘I know from the past he is unstoppable. No defender can stop him because he's one of the quickest in the first 10 yards. He is resilient, he is a character and he will fight back.’

Ten Hag has injury problems for a game he admits United have to win.

Harry Maguire has joined a lengthening casualty list, while Bruno Fernandes and Raphael Varane are both doubtful.

Ten Hag also hit back at Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher over his criticism of United’s tactics and pressing in the 2-1 defeat to Fulham.

He described Carragher as ‘subjective’, implying the former Liverpool defender wasn’t being fair in his analysis.

‘Some analysts are very objective in their comments, very good advisors, some are very subjective,’ said Ten Hag.

‘Jamie Carragher from the first moment on has criticised and now he wants to make his point.’