Thomas Frank's Erik ten Hag sack response has shown Man United new reality Ineos won't like

Thomas Frank has offered a telling reaction, which should cast doubt over his suitability for the Manchester United job if Erik ten Hag leaves.

There is no doubt that Saturday's fixture between United and Brentford could be an Old Trafford audition for Frank. A win, even against a wounded Reds team, would boost the Dane's reputation and push Ten Hag closer to the exit door.

The Bees have overachieved under Frank, having spent longer in the Premier League than most would have expected. Frank's team also famously thrashed United 4-0 in just Ten Hag's second game in charge back in 2022.

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But his words in Thursday's pre-match conference should worry Ineos if they do think of hiring him one day. The 51-year-old slammed the scrutiny surrounding his opposition manager's position.

"It's incredible how much scrutiny he's had to face," he said via Brentford's website. "As a head coach, I acknowledge how it feels to be in a situation like this. I think [the criticism] is too much.

"He's clearly a good coach, he's won two trophies in two seasons. But I understand how it is: if the team wins, the head coach is absolutely fantastic; if the team loses, the head coach is absolutely s***! Whereas it's probably somewhere in between.

"It's never only the head coach, or the players, or the fans, or the board - it's a combination of all of these things."

Whilst Frank does have a point about the overreaction at times to United's results, the Reds have endured their worst-ever start to a Premier League season after finishing eighth last