Manchester United are set to stick with Erik ten Hag for now but the Dutchman faces a defining week as he battles for his Old Trafford future.

The pressure is building on the 54-year-old after a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday left United languishing in 12th in the Premier League. They have won just three of nine competitive fixtures this season.

Ten Hag arrived at Carrington at 7.30am on Monday and he is set to remain in charge for the Europa League trip to Porto on Thursday and the Premier League fixture at Aston Villa on Sunday.

Those are the final two fixtures before the October international break and they could be crucial in deciding Ten Hag’s fate. United have lost their last two home Premier League games 3-0 and have now conceded three goals in eight of their last 28 Old Trafford fixtures.

They have won just 27 of 61 games in all competitions since the start of last season and are winless in three ahead of the trip to Portugal. United will train at Carrington this week before flying to Portugal on Wednesday afternoon.

United’s latest Old Trafford horror show was watched by chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth, technical director Jason Wilcox and Ineos’ director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford. It leaves the team already facing an uphill battle to secure Champions League qualification via the Premier League.

Ten Hag was defiant when asked about his future in the aftermath of the Spurs defeat and he will be hoping his players can find a response this week. He came close to the sack in the summer and Ineos had planned for a change before victory in the FA Cup final.

After a prolonged end-of-season review when club officials spoke to potential replacements, Ten Hag was told he was staying in a June summit in Ibiza, where he was on holiday at the time. United have since exercised the option to extend his contract until 2026.

“No, not thinking about this,” Ten Hag replied when asked about his future. “We all made a togetherness, this decision, to stay together as an ownership, as a leadership group in the summer.

“And also we made the decision from a clear review, what we have to improve as an organisation and how we want to construct a squad. They are all decision-making in togetherness.

“But we also knew it will take some time because of how the window went, some players were late in like Ugarte, we have to integrate him now. Also, we had to make some improvements in organisation, we still have to deal with some injuries, impact players. We will get better there, we need some time.

“We are all there on one page, one boat, together, the ownership, the leadership group, the staff, the players’ group as well, so I don’t have that concern.

“Of course, there’s always a new game, there will be a new day and it’s also obvious you have to learn as a team.”

United should secure a top-eight finish in the Europa League league phase but the stakes have been raised ahead of the Porto fixture after last week’s draw with FC Twente. Porto also need a result after their campaign began with a defeat to Bodo/Glimt in Norway.

On Sunday it is another vital league game in the battle for a top-four finish. Aston Villa’s momentum was punctured by a 2-2 draw with Ipswich on Sunday but they are already six points ahead of United.