I worked with Dan Ashworth - I know 3 things he'll do at Man United with Erik ten Hag pressure
After three years alongside Dan Ashworth during his successful period at Brighton, Graham Potter is expecting Dan Ashworth to get Manchester United back on track. Having arrived over the summer as sporting director, it hasn't been the best start.
Although Ashworth has been allowed time to get his feet under the table at Old Trafford thanks to the appointment of Christopher Vivell in a short-term recruitment role, under his watch there have been some high-profile struggles. Chiefly among them has been the future of Erik ten Hag.
Ashworth was still on gardening leave for much of United's initial managerial search at the end of last season but has come into a club which eventually chose to stand by the head coach. Consecutive 3-0 home defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham - both sides that United want to be competing alongside again - have put Ten Hag's position in doubt.
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He is safe for now but faces a defining week in the hot seat with tough trips to Porto in the Europa League and then Aston Villa to follow. With an international break on the horizon, United will continue to assess Ten Hag's progress.
It is Ashworth's job, alongside Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada as a new think-tank at the club, to put long-term infrastructure in place to best guarantee stability and success. That is not the sort of thing that happens overnight, and Potter can see things improving over time.
Having been close with Ashworth at Brighton between 2019 and 2022, when Tony Bloom's side went from relegation candidates to the verge of European football before Roberto De