I’m a former Man Utd star – Erik ten Hag needs Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s backing and here’s why he shouldn’t be sacked

ERIK TEN HAG should remain Manchester United manager for next season regardless of how he finishes this term.

That is according to United hero Mikael Silvestre, who insist the club’s new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe should give Ten Hag his full backing because of the Dutchman’s success in the previous campaign.

Erik ten Hag should remain Manchester United manager next seasonGetty

Man Utd hero Mikael Silvestre insists Ten Hag proved his worth last seasonGetty

The 54-year-old came under fire this term following a poor start that saw the Red Devils getting knocked out of the Champions League group stages and falling dangerously far away from the top four.

The ex-Ajax boss has managed to turn things around after the holidays as he has won six out of eight matches, of which he only lost one, this year.

Ten Hag is making a strong claim for a late top-four push but his position at the Old Trafford dugout still looks uncertain.

Ratcliffe, who completed a £1.03billion takeover of 27.7 per cent of the club and is now in charge of sporting operations, hinted at major changes ahead of next season.

However, Silvestre remains adamant that the Dutch tactician should stay put as he has already showed he can work wonders with the right players.

Ten Hag led United to a third-place finish on his debut campaign, won their first piece of silverware in six years after a Carabao Cup triumph and also made it to the FA Cup Final.

Silvestre told SunSport on behalf of Betting Expert: “Yeah, I think he should be given time because of last season – the way the team behaved. The team performed and there was clear direction.

“He needs to be given time to implement his ideas, to have the right players in the right positions to go back to winning ways and to be a dominant force again in the league.

“So I think he should be given time and the backing necessary in terms of time and investment.”

Ten Hag also has the chance of winning silverware this season as United are still in the FA Cup.

The Manchester giants travel to the City Ground on Wednesday to face Nottingham Forest in the fifth round.