Outcome of games against Porto and Aston Villa may settle things for United’s board despite desire to show faith

After deciding not to sack Erik ten Hag in the summer and extending his contract to 2026, the Sir Jim Ratcliffe-led football department would appear a touch silly if he were removed six Premier League matches into the season. So, the stance at the club the morning after the 3-0 humiliation by Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday was a resolve to remain serene while acknowledging the defeat, and its manner, as anathema to the excellence pursued by Ratcliffe, his chief executive, Omar Berrada, and the sporting director, Dan Ashworth. Ten league outings may seem a more prudent test of Ten Hag and his piloting of the squad but lose at Porto, on Thursday in the Europa League, and at Aston Villa, on Sunday in the league, and the cull may come. Especially with an international break after the Villa game.