Erik ten Hag has warned Manchester United’s owners that he will continue winning trophies elsewhere if they decide to sack him, following United’s 2-1 victory against Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
Despite securing the second trophy of his two-year tenure by outsmarting City’s Pep Guardiola, Ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford remains uncertain due to reports suggesting his dismissal regardless of the result at Wembley.
The Dutch manager must now await his fate, with United’s co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and members of the Glazer family, the club’s majority shareholders, celebrating the team’s first FA Cup triumph in eight years from the Royal box.
Ten Hag’s position is under scrutiny after United’s eighth-place finish in the Premier League, their lowest since 1990, and a group stage exit in the Champions League. United lost 14 league games, including defeats to Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, finishing 31 points behind champions City with a negative goal difference.
Despite these setbacks, Ten Hag is confident that United is progressing under his leadership. In a defiant post-match press conference, he expressed no fear of being sacked. “When I started here, I said I’m here to win, and I want to build a team. Both I’m doing,” he stated. “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 about his job, Ten Hag replied, “That is what they always tell me. 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.”
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 as potential replacements.
When questioned if the reports of talks with other managers were 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 secured an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title last weekend was a significant achievement for Ten Hag. He ended United’s six-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup last season and could take pride in his successful game plan against City.
Reflecting on the victory, Ten Hag said, “If you play at this level against the best team in the world, then I’m very happy. 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.”
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He acknowledged the challenges he faced when he took over, saying, “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 at the final whistle. United fans cheered him as he held up the Cup, kissing it and repeatedly shouting “yes” towards the jubilant supporters.
He emphasized the need for more investment in the squad to compete with City in the long term, stating, “When you don’t have the players available, then you can’t perform. 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.”
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