24 May 2024 , 16:14
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Manchester United have decided to sack Erik ten Hag regardless of the outcome of this weekend’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Saturday’s Wembley final was thought to represent not only United’s last chance for silverware this season but also Ten Hag’s final opportunity to win the support of the Old Trafford hierarchy.
Despite reaching the FA Cup final, where they will face local rivals and Premier League champions Man City, United have largely underwhelmed in Ten Hag’s second season at the club, finishing just eighth in the Premier League.
That was Manchester United’s worst league performance in 34 years, while Ten Hag’s side also lost more games than any other United team in the Premier League era and finished with a negative goal difference for the first time since 1990.
Still, with a scarcity of obvious contenders to replace the Dutchman – who impressed at Ajax before moving to Old Trafford in 2022 – his United stewardship was still said to be hanging in the balance ahead of the FA Cup final.
But The Guardian say Ten Hag will be sacked even if Manchester United produce an upset and win the FA Cup, meaning new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be appointing a new manager this summer.
The Premier League giants have identified ex-Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, Brentford’s Thomas Frank and former Chelsea managers Mauricio Pochettino and Graham Potter as possible replacements.
United enjoyed a promising first season under Ten Hag, finishing third in the Premier League and winning the Carabao Cup, but they have failed to build on that platform this year and it looks set to cost the 54-year-old his job.
Asked about the intense speculation over his future at his pre-FA Cup final press conference, Ten Hag said: ‘I have nothing to say.
‘I am just focusing on the job I have to do and that is first to win the game on Saturday and then keep going in the project. Every game I want to win and that is it.’
Pressed on whether he was planning for next season, Ten Hag added: ‘Yes of course but my focus is on Saturday. I only think about this game.
‘But every season we review and we will see where we are in the project and what we have to change. There are some very good things, with players coming up and developing.’
Amid the speculation and uncertainty over Ten Hag, Manchester United will try to win the FA Cup for a 13th time at Wembley on Saturday – only Arsenal have more with 14 titles.
But the Red Devils must beat a Manchester City side who last week clinched a record-breaking fourth successive Premier League title and have their sights set on unprecedented back-to-back domestic doubles.
Pep Guardiola’s side defeated United twice in the league this season and have good memories from last year’s FA Cup final, where they downed their local rivals on their way to securing a historic treble.
Manchester City have won six of their last seven fixtures against Manchester United and will look to take advantage of the chaos around Old Trafford to secure more silverware on Saturday.