Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag made a desperate last pitch to save his job after the FA Cup win.
The Dutch manager, who has now secured his second trophy in two years, led United to a first-half 2-0 lead with goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. Despite Jeremy Doku’s late strike for City in the 87th minute, United held firm to lift the FA Cup.
Prior to the match, speculation was rife that the Manchester United hierarchy have already decided to part ways with Ten Hag regardless of the outcome.
The 54-year-old has faced criticism for United’s worst-ever Premier League finish, which he has attributed to a series of injuries.
Erik ten Hag makes last pitch to save job
Speaking to the BBC after the FA Cup win, Ten Hag acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his future but defended his tenure, emphasising the progress made under his leadership.
When asked if the FA Cup final could be his last match as United manager, Ten Hag responded (quotes via Premier League):
“I don’t know. The only thing I’m doing is preparing my team, developing my team.”
“This is a project for me. When I came in I can say it was a mess. Now we are better. We are not where we want to be.”
“Football is about winning trophies. I want to play the best football, dynamic, attacking football but in the end you have to win games and trophies. That’s the mentality we brought in. This was our one opportunity and we did it. I’m very proud of the players and staff.”
Manchester United expected to make Erik ten Hag decision soon
It remains to be seen whether the new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe decides to stick with ten Hag after the FA Cup win or lets him go.
Potential successors are already being discussed, with Thomas Tuchel, who is set to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, and Mauricio Pochettino, recently dismissed by Chelsea, both linked to the United job.
As the club heads into the off-season, the decision on Ten Hag’s future will be crucial in shaping Manchester United’s direction in the upcoming campaign.
He didn’t sound at all desperate today, just matter of fact in his answers. He’s not fired until he’s fired, everything else is speculation and needy clickbait headlines.
It’s been a shit year for United, but it has had positives in the way he has brought on Garnacho and Mainoo, with Onana and Hojlund making steady progress too. Kwambala had a few runs and looks a decent prospect, and hopefully Amad gets a few more games next season.
Today they looked like a team, all of the front three getting their heads up and working for each other rather than going it alone. Brilliant. Bruno’s pass to Mainoo will get all the plaudits, but for me Rashford’s vision to pick out G7 was just as good. More of that kind of thing please.
United need 40 more goals in a season (80+).
Hojlund/AN Other, needs to get a solid 20+.
Bruno, MR, G7, Mainoo need to be getting 10+ each.
With 20+ from everyone else.
The only way they’ll do that is by working for each other, like they did today.