Erik ten Hag is reportedly fighting to keep his job as Manchester United manager following a difficult start to the 2024-25 season (Picture: Getty).
In a ‘shocking’ security breach, one of Ten Hag’s team talks during United’s 0-0 draw against Aston Villa was secretly recorded, according to reports.
Ten Hag is under significant pressure after United’s poor start to the season, with suggestions that he has only two matches to turn things around. The first of those games was Sunday’s draw at Villa Park.
The Sun has revealed that a football prankster managed to gain access to the dressing room and recorded Ten Hag’s team talk. While details of what was said have not been published, it is reported that the manager’s instructions to his players could be heard in the recording.
A source told The Sun: “This is a shocking breach of security, and serious questions will be asked about how this could happen. Fortunately, it was not a malicious incident but rather a prank by a United fan.”
“[He was] just being silly and curious about what goes on behind closed doors,” the source added.
“But this will definitely raise concerns about how someone managed to access a changing room at one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs just days before a match.”
It’s understood that the prankster used sticky tape to discreetly place a recording device, activating it just before Erik ten Hag’s team talk. He then returned on Monday, the day after the match, to retrieve the device.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are set to return to action on October 19, hosting Brentford at Old Trafford after the international break. Ten Hag’s side has only won two of their first seven Premier League games this season.
