'No more pressure' - Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag insists he isn't feeling the heat at Old Trafford following Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover with Dutchman having 'many conservations' with new owner

United announced the sale of a 25% stake of the club to Ratcliffe's INEOS group in December but it was only this week where the deal was officially approved. With the 71-year-old stating it is imperative the Red Devils are competing for the top honours, manager Ten Hag says the two have the "same ambition" and does not feel under the cosh any more now than he did before.

The Dutchman told reporters on Friday: "We speak a lot, there are many conversations with him [Ratcliffe], with Dave Brailsford about this club, about this team, about the structures, we are very aligned, it totally fits with ambitions I have, ambitions I had when I came in. I'm 19 months in and I see we are going in the right direction. We have had setbacks in the second season but you see the team coming, the squad developing, work hard on the training pitch, work hard during games, it's important to have players fit but also to construct the squad, we will be strong and we will be even stronger when we add to this squad even more qualities."

He added: "Nothing. No more pressure because we have the same ambition, we have the same targets."

While Ratcliffe is saying all the right things if you are a United fan, the Premier League giants are a long way from competing for silverware at present. Although they have won four on the spin in the English top-flight, they still sit five points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in sixth, and suffered early exits in this season's Carabao Cup and Champions League. Success in the FA Cup and a top four finish are still possible, but United never seem too far away from a "crisis" - and Ten Hag's future may not be that secure if results worsen.

Now the £1.3 billion ($1.6bn) takeover is finalised, United return to on the field matters on Saturday when they host mid-table Fulham at Old Trafford in the Premier League. To round off the month, they travel to Nottingham Forest in round five of the FA Cup on Wednesday.