ERIK TEN HAG had a heated conversation with his number two Ruud van Nistelrooy against Aston Villa.
Manchester United picked up their first clean sheet in four games as they battled to a dull 0-0 draw at Villa Park.
But Ten Hag still did not cut an easy figure on the touchline and at one point during the match became embroiled in an argument with his compatriot.
The Dutchman sat in the dugout as Van Nistelrooy offered advice, but Ten Hag appeared to dismiss his suggestions.
Ten Hag gestured with his hand and shook his head and had a puzzled look on his face, clearly not agreeing with his right-hand man.
Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford as assistant manager in the summer but will reportedly be offered the top job if Ten Hag is sacked.
Ten Hag was given the Porto and Aston Villa matches to avoid the sack and two draws mean he has been given a stay of execution.
Fans are calling for him to be axed with United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe refusing to publicly back him, and Ten Hag admits he has no idea if he will be sacked.
He said: "I don’t have any idea that is different. Because they should have told me. We communicate very open, very transparent.
"I speak continuously with them and just after the game I have to do my job, talk with the players, manage the players and answer questions from you.
"We always talk. Every week, I would say every day we talk, so I expect I will speak with them.
"I think you said it very good - external noise. Internal, we are disappointed, we know we have to do better, especially we need to score more, that is the moment in this area after this block of games where we are really short."
Man Utd are understood to be considering their options with Thomas Tuchel lined up as a potential replacement.
Van Nistelrooy could also get the gig but reportedly has doubts about usurping Ten Hag due to his own experience of being betrayed while manager of PSV.
The former striker lasted less than a year as manager of the Dutch club as he accused his assistant Fred Rutten and several senior players of conspiring with the club’s directors in the Spring of 2023, before he quit the club prior to the final game of the season.