Erik ten Hag warned Manchester United’s owners that he will carry on winning trophies elsewhere if they decide to sack him in the aftermath of Saturday’s 2-1 victory against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Ten Hag went into the final rocked by reports that he would be dismissed regardless of the result at Wembley.
But United’s beleaguered manager made a convincing case to remain in charge as he out-witted City boss Pep Guardiola to deliver the second trophy of his turbulent two-year reign.
Now Ten Hag must wait to discover his fate after insisting he had not been told if he will be axed.
United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and members of the Glazer family, who are the club’s majority shareholders, celebrated the team’s first FA Cup triumph in eight years from the Royal box.
It remains to be seen whether that will be enough to save Ten Hag after United finished eighth in the Premier League — their lowest final position since 1990 — and crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage.
United were beaten 14 times in the league — including humiliating losses to Crystal Palace and Bournemouth — finished with a negative goal difference and came 31 points behind champions City.
Yet Ten Hag is adamant United are heading in the right direction under his guidance.
And in a defiant post-match press conference, the former Ajax boss made it clear he did not fear the sack.
“When I started here, I said I’m here to win, also I want to build a team. Both I’m doing,” he said.
“If they don’t want me, I go anywhere else and do what I did my whole career, winning games and trophies.”
Asked if he had received any assurances that his job was secure since the reports of his potential dismissal, Ten Hag said: “That is what they always tell me (in the past).
“Every time it is the same question. They don’t have to tell me every week.
“I don’t think about this. I’m in a project and we are exactly where we want to be. We are constructing a team for the future.”
‘It was a mess’ –
United have been linked with former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, ex-Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel, England manager Gareth Southgate and Ipswich chief Kieran McKenna.
Pressed on whether reports that United had talked to prospective replacements for him was disrespectful, Ten Hag said: “I don’t know if they have done this. I can’t answer this.
“I don’t have to make this decision. In the last decade there were not so many trophies and finals for this club.”
Beating a City team that clinched an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League last weekend was undoubtedly a feather in Ten Hag’s cap.
The Dutchman, who ended United’s six-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup last season, could take credit for an astute game-plan and he admitted it was a sweet success in the circumstances.
“If you play at this level against the best team in the world, then I’m very happy,” he said.
“The FA Cup was absolutely one on my bucket list. It is a huge trophy. I’m so happy we won because it was a team performance.
“When I took over it was a mess at United. We will go with ups and downs but the team plays with an identity.
“We are exactly where we should be. We have values in the squad, the team is progressing. Two trophies in three years is not bad. Three finals as well, but I’m not satisfied.”
Ten Hag appears to have the support of his players, with Lisandro Martinez lifting him into the air in celebration when the final whistle sounded, before he was embraced by many of his players.
Ten Hag was cheered to the rafters by United fans when he held up the Cup in the Royal box, kissing it and repeatedly shouting “yes” as he gestured towards the celebrating mass of red in the Wembley sunshine.
If Ten Hag has earned a reprieve, he made it clear more investment in the squad is needed to compete with City in the long term.
“When you don’t have the players available, then you can’t perform,” he said of United’s injury-plagued season.
“The depth in the squad is absolutely not good enough. We strengthened the squad with our coaching but we need transfer windows to bring in players who are always available.”
smg/nf
© Agence France-Presse
Didn’t see the game, but wasn’t surprised they won, although I thought City would probably win…Man.United, is weak in the scoring dept. ,their back line has had multiple injuries which led to instabilities in the backfield causing also a shaky midfield…Therefore it’s not surprising they lost 14games this year.
The problem further adds to that Ten Hag which trying to build a good backfield and he did that by bringing an Argentinian Ajax player who became the smallest centerback in the league, probably all of 5’6″. He became the laughing stock of the Premier league until saw they saw leadership , his aggressiveness , his 1v1 ball-handling capabilities, his quickness and his great passes upfield . In other words, Ten Hag broke the traditional mold of an English centerback to be big.
Martinez learned at Ajax how important and know-how of how the first pass out of the backfield is executed, an element that is lost to a typical centerback…
I can’t see firing Ten Hag, afterall United’s had problems way before Ten Hag came. Ten Hag did a decent to good job under the lousy circumstances he was placed in…It would be stupid to replace him with a new coach, with no guarantees of success. At least Ten Hag, has learned a lot about the workings of United and what needs to be done for he knows the players, and what is needed..He shouldn’t be judged by the major screwups of the management but judge Ten Hag on what he has accomplished..
Results would Dictate he Goes…
But, No One else has seemed to be able to Fix the Problem.
And, there is NO One else out there, who is any Better…
Might as well as give him another Season, or Half-Season.
I remember a United that used to consider the FA Cup and “beer” cup minor trophies that were nice to get but not the focus of the club. How the mighty have fallen.
R2, The FA cup is the pinnacle of cups and the league championship cup is ranked second..No one in England knows or even talks about who won the league 4 years ago ,lets say, but the English soccer memory on FA Cup is discussed so much more due to its prestige…
FA Cup = Fools gold. Just ask non-other than Alex Ferguson. Ratcliffe knows this. ten Hag is a very good coach but his weakness is man management, ergo Sancho, will not get the hook until Ratcliffe has completed his assessment of ‘as is’ and from that drawn an actionable ‘to-be’, of which coach profile will be a part. With FA Cup MANU win Europa League spot and $2M. Winning all of Europa League as Atalanta did will net them in total less Aston Villa will be guaranteed for just the group phase of Champions League. For those that still see FA as important – enjoy.
Silverware – goes in the cupboard – prize money – the bank. It’s all about the money.
Bingo … It’s PRO Soccer … Not whose Pretiest
Wins equal MONEY in the Banco!!! Cha-Ching 🤑🤑🤑