COUNTDOWN FROM TEN Ten Hag enjoys New Year’s Eve dinner with wife Bianca and family as Man Utd boss looks to get back on track in 2024
New Year's Eve proved a big day at Carrington with an important visit
Posted Tuesday, January 02, 2024 by Thesun.co.uk
ERIK TEN HAG ended 2023 on a high as he headed out for a swanky meal with his family.
The Manchester United manager endured a mixed year in charge of the Red Devils.
Erik ten Hag headed out for a meal on New Year's Eve with his wife Bianca Credit: Eamonn and James Clarke
It was an enjoyable end to a mixed 2023 for the Red Devils boss Credit: Eamonn and James Clarke
He helped the club end their six-year trophy drought as they won the Carabao Cup and got the club back into the Champions League.
But his injury-hit side were dumped out in the group stages and have struggled for consistency throughout the current campaign - while off the field there are ongoing spats with the likes of Jadon Sancho.
And United finished the calendar year in disappointing fashion with a 2-1 defeat away at Nottingham Forest to leave themselves seventh in the table and nine points adrift of the top four.
However, Ten Hag put all that aside as he enjoyed some family time in Altrincham on New Year's Eve.
Ten Hag was joined by his wife Bianca and several family members at The Con Club.
The high-end restaurant serves various meat and sushi dishes - with a special menu on offer for New Year's Eve.
Ten Hag, 53, was snapped wearing a dark coat, trousers and trainers with a flat cap on his way in while Bianca was in a beige jacket and scarf.
The Dutchman dad-of-three appeared to speak to a few members of the public before tucking into his dinner inside.
Earlier on New Year's Eve, Sir Dave Brailsford had his first official day at Manchester United as he spent the day at Carrington.
Brailsford is Sir Jim Ratcliffe's right-hand man and will join the football board at Old Trafford when the Ineos chief's 25 per cent purchase of the club is ratified by the Premier League.
Brailsford is said to have spent New Year's Eve getting a tour of the training ground and undergoing various meet and greets with staff.
He attended the matches against Aston Villa and Forest.
But the Ineos' director of sport and former Team Sky cycling boss is yet to have a formal meeting with Ten Hag, the coaches or the recruitment team.
The manager, though, does not fear for his job - despite the incoming investors' interest in Graham Potter.
Speaking after the Villa comeback win on Boxing Day, Ten Hag said: “They (INEOS) know me and they know when I have a squad what is available the results will be there. We already proved against the top teams we can go head to head.
“I am convinced and have a strong belief we (can) get more progress, consistency in this team. This is part of a project.
"We were overperforming last year, this year we are underperforming, we have to step up and I have to lead that process.”
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