Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur meet at Old Trafford this afternoon, with Erik ten Hag and Ange Postecoglou needing a Premier League win. In the case of the former, it wouldn't be a stretch to say he desperately requires a positive result amid scrutiny that is refusing to disappear.
Ten Hag has been under mounting pressure since the start of a disastrous 2023/24 campaign, which was salvaged by the shock FA Cup triumph in May.
Had it not been for glory at Wembley against Manchester City, the Dutchman likely wouldn't still be roaming the Old Trafford technical area.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS still assessed their options, though, holding meetings with multiple candidates, including Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Tuchel and Thomas Frank.
They eventually settled on Ten Hag as the best option to guide United into a new era, backing him with five new signings in the summer transfer window.
But results haven't improved. United have won just six of their last 19 Premier League games and one of their previous nine in Europe.
Although performances have offered some aspects to be optimistic about, the Red Devils' only wins in seven outings this season have come against Fulham, Southampton and Barnsley.
A failure to beat FC Twente in Wednesday's Europa League clash predictability ramped up the discontent among supporters.
Another winless day when Tottenham visit M16 would intensify the situation further, sparking continued debate about Ten Hag's credentials.
In the opposite technical area stands Postecoglou, who was praised for his first season at Spurs but won't be happy with how they've started his second.
His stock remains high, though, and in March, ESPN reported that INEOS were ready to be ambitious with any attempt to replace Ten Hag.
And it was claimed that United's new hierarchy hadn't ruled out a potential approach for Postecoglou or any other manager who is secure in a job.
The same report named De Zerbi, Tuchel and Frank as shortlisted targets months before they held meetings about the position.
Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter, Julen Lopetegui, Zinedine Zidane, Ruben Amorim and Julian Nagelsmann were also mentioned.
INEOS will hope Ten Hag can turn United's fortunes around in the coming months, removing the need to consider succession plans.
But Postecoglou certainly has admirers within the walls of Old Trafford, and if Ratcliffe isn't in attendance to watch his work first-hand this weekend, INEOS executives will be.
