Erik ten Hag is under serious threat of being sacked as Manchester United manager, even though he masterminded a Wembley upset in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Although United sources continued to insist on Friday evening that no final decision had been made on Ten Hag’s future and that a full review of the season would take place next week, club officials have spent much of this week speaking to representatives of potential players. replacements as the ax looms for the Dutchman.
Louis van Gaal was sacked by United despite winning the FA Cup in 2016 and his compatriot Ten Hag is now at serious risk of a similar fate even if Premier League champions City are defeated at Wembley and fall short of becoming the first English club to does the double. Double.
Another turbulent day at United revealed that Ten Hag has already held his end-of-season review at Ineos and will go on holiday on Sunday, and that the club has scheduled talks with Brentford manager Thomas Frank’s agents after already holding talks with the agents from Brentford manager Thomas Frank. dialogue with representatives of other candidates, including Kieran McKenna, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate.
Meanwhile, captain Bruno Fernandes wants assurances the club can achieve his ambitions amid doubts over his future after admitting his “frustration” following a torrid season.
Ten Hag also dismissed Wayne Rooney’s claims that some injured United players had left the club’s final Premier League games to protect themselves for the cup final.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos side, who took full control of football at Old Trafford from the Glazers in February, have repeatedly refused to offer Ten Hag public guarantees that he will remain in charge after the end of the season.
Sources claim a decision on Ten Hag’s future will not be determined by the outcome of the final and United’s new technical director Jason Wilcox has been busy in recent weeks making recommendations to the board on the approach of the manager, the playing style and the suitability for the club. role and relationships with the locker room.
Asked whether he had planned talks with Ineos on Sunday or early next week, Ten Hag revealed that he had already conducted his end-of-season review with the new influential minority owners. “No, we have already done that and I am going on holiday on Sunday,” said Ten Hag. “I think I deserve it.”
Asked if he had been given any guarantee that he would still be in charge after the summer, the manager added: “That is not necessary. We are going for next season.”
United endured a dismal end to an injury-plagued season as Ten Hag’s authority in the dressing room began to erode amid mounting doubts over his future. The club finished eighth in the Premier League with a negative goal difference, their lowest finish in 34 years.
With Mauricio Pochettino leaving as Chelsea manager by mutual consent on Tuesday, United accelerated their managerial contingency plans amid interest in some of the same suitors as the west London club.
They have held talks with representatives for Tuchel, who is leaving Bayern Munich, Pochettino himself and their former first-team coach McKenna, who left Old Trafford for Ipswich in 2021 and went on to lead the club to successive promotions to the Premier League. . United are also said to have held discussions with Frank’s representatives.
Southgate also remains strongly in the running for the post, although he would not be available to start until mid to late July given his commitment to England at the 2024 Euros this summer. Former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter has also been linked.
Some reports have suggested that Tuchel is the frontrunner, but it is clear that there is some doubt over whether he is the right fit in terms of character for what United want at this stage.
Although Jose Mourinho was already in line to replace Van Gaal in 2016, whose departure was confirmed within 48 hours of winning the cup, Ineos appear to be keeping all options open so far.
Sacking Ten Hag, who has a year left on his contract, and his staff could cost United at least £10 million and there would also be significant compensation for a number of candidates to potentially replace the Dutchman at a time when the purse strings are tight. gets tight. are very tight heading into a challenging summer.
Failure to beat City at Wembley would see United miss out on European qualification entirely and increase the need to sell well in the summer window to raise money to reinvest in the squad.
Fernandes, 29, is not a player. United are actively looking to move on, but there is interest from Saudi Arabia and Europe for the club captain and given his age it is thought a major offer should be considered.
After a season in which his team has been plagued by injuries, Ten Hag will only miss defenders Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia against City, although striker Anthony Martial, who has been sidelined since early December, was not spotted among the players who left on Friday by train to London.
But Ten Hag has dismissed Rooney’s claims this month that some injured United players deliberately sat out the club’s final Premier League games to protect themselves for the Wembley showpiece.
Defender Victor Lindelof has been sidelined since the end of March, but has been included in the selection.
Rooney said he was “100 percent” convinced there were players who could have played earlier and still saved themselves for the cup final, but Ten Hag dismissed those claims.
“If it was another game they would have been available,” the United manager said. “All the players are desperate to play. Nobody wants to get injured, they know careers are very short and want to be part of every Premier League game and every cup match. That is absolutely not the problem you are suggesting.”