Erik ten Hag gives spiky Man United response as his selection policy is set for ultimate test

Erik ten Hag is preparing for a huge game in his tenure as Manchester United manager this evening as his side take on Porto in the Europa League.

United make the trip to Portugal knowing they must improve on a dismal start to the season to relieve the growing pressure on their manager.

They also need to get the first win of their Europa League campaign on the board after a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente last week.

With just seven points from a possible 18 in the Premier League, Ten Hag's position has already come under scrutiny this season.

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Manchester Evening News understands his position is safe for now but it is also a pivotal week for his reign with back-to-back away trips to Porto and Aston Villa needing to yield an improvement in results and performances.

Ahead of United's clash at the Estadio o Dragao, here is a round-up of the early morning headlines.

Reporting from Ten Hag's pre-match press conference in Porto, our chief Manchester United writer Samuel Luckhurst has recounted the only point of his media briefing the United boss raised his voice as he defended his position as manager.

"Ten Hag was typically phlegmatic," he wrote.

"No, he did not require a confidence boost from the power brokers. He was "mad" and would channel it to improve the team's form.

"The only time he raised his voice a notch was when he reflected on the summer review. "We made that agreement in the summer, we had the discussion, we had the review, we made our decisions, we refreshed and reset the staff and I appointed my assistants, I appointed the staff, it was a common process but I did this."

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