ERIK TEN HAG finished 2023 on a high note, heading out for a nice dinner with his family.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho had a difficult year in command of the Red Devils.

He helped the team break a six-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup and re-entering the Champions League.

However, his injury-plagued team were eliminated in the group stages and have struggled for consistency during the current campaign, while off the field there are constant squabbles with players such as Jadon Sancho.

And United capped off the year with a 2-1 defeat away at Nottingham Forest, dropping them to seventh in the table and nine points below the top four.

Ten Hag, on the other hand, put all of that aside to spend New Year’s Eve with his family in Altrincham.

Ten Hag was accompanied at The Con Club by his wife Bianca and several family members.

The high-end restaurant features a variety of meat and sushi dishes, as well as a special New Year’s Eve menu.

Ten Hag, 53, was photographed on his way in wearing a dark coat, jeans, and sneakers with a flat cap, while Bianca was dressed in a beige jacket and scarf.

Before eating into his dinner indoors, the Dutchman father-of-three appeared to interact with a few members of the public.

Sir Dave Brailsford had his first official day at Manchester United earlier on New Year’s Eve, spending the day at Carrington.

Brailsford is Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s right-hand man and will join the football board at Old Trafford if the Premier League approves the Ineos CEO’s 25% ownership of the club.

Brailsford is supposed to have spent New Year’s Eve having a tour of the training grounds and meeting with various staff members.

He was there for the games against Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.

However, Ineos’ director of sport and former staff Sky cycling head has yet to meet with Ten Hag, the coaches, or the recruitment staff in person.

Despite the prospective investors’ interest in Graham Potter, the management does not worry for his career.

“They (INEOS) know me and they know when I have a squad what is available, the results will be there,” Ten Hag remarked after Villa’s comeback triumph on Boxing Day. We’ve already shown that we can compete with the best teams.

“I am convinced and have a strong belief that we (can) make more progress and maintain consistency in this team.” This is part of a larger project.

“We were overperforming last year, this year we are underperforming, we have to step up and I have to lead that process.”