Having drawn up exactly the right match plan for the FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag also seemed to have prepared a ready-made answer. The Dutch coach had just added a little more glory to Manchester United’s history, but despite everything, questions about his future inevitably dominated the aftermath of the victory over Manchester City.
Ten Hag spoke about winning another trophy, the team’s ‘identity’, his record, injuries and how United were ‘a mess’ when he took over, just as he did in two interviews straight after the match. Then, just like with the game itself, there was a surprise.
“If they don’t want me anymore, I’ll go somewhere else and win trophies because that’s what I’ve done my whole career.”
It was as telling a comment as there was, but one with some assertiveness behind it. Ten Hag generally handled a difficult situation well, as the entire match was dominated by questions about his future.
It also puts INEOS in a more difficult position as a sacking would clearly be unpopular with a significant portion of the fanbase. This is a test of that, at least if they haven’t made their decision yet. The reality is that almost everything about the day suggested that the call has already been made.
As Ten Hag addressed the broadcasters, Sir Jim Ratcliffe walked through the mixed zone with Sir Dave Brailsford beside him. He initially stopped for an interview, but the first question was whether Ten Hag would continue as manager. Ratcliffe’s expression briefly changed from a smile as he registered the question, before turning and walking away without saying anything. It said perhaps more than any factual answer ever could. United’s minority owner, who will now make all major football decisions, made no mention of Ten Hag in an earlier response.
Many of the manager’s own answers sounded as if he had accepted his fate. Although he told Dutch media in an earlier interview that INEOS told him they wanted him to continue, he declined to specify when that was in his post-match press conference.
“This is what they always tell me,” he said first, before being pressed when. “But how many times do I have to tell you, every time it’s the same question: Do I have to repeat myself 10, 15, 20 times? If they tell me so often, don’t they have to tell me every week?
In the midst of all this, there was another moving comment from Ten Hag.
“The FA Cup was definitely on my bucket list,” he said. “It’s such a huge trophy. I’m so happy that we won it with the players, the team and the staff. It is a real team effort.”
Even an analysis of what this all means would of course have to acknowledge what the day was actually about, as this is what Manchester United should be about: winning trophies; glory. Precisely because that seemed such a distant prospect lately, as Manchester City claimed everything for themselves, this victory was enjoyed more deeply. Elements of it were almost sweeter than many of the victories under Sir Alex Ferguson, who walked through the mixed zone laughing as he refused interviews because he is now retired. United fans gleefully mocked City’s 115 charges for alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play rules, with the English champions insisting on their innocence.
What really stood out about this performance was how the Ten Hag team seemed to distill all these emotions into something challenging, seizing the moment. In the end it seemed like it meant more to United than City. Ten Hag’s team played for him, and with everything.
“I really enjoyed this final,” he continued. “Firstly, lifting the trophy, but above all the way we played. Then you see all the work we have done together, staff, players, togetherness to develop this team and move it forward. And when you play at this level against the best team in the world… I am very happy with that.”
Ten Hag also repeatedly emphasized the point about absences, and how he had key players back. That was most important in central defence, and it’s no coincidence that one of United’s most solid performances of the season came when Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez reunited. The Argentinian set the tone with one brilliant early challenge.
And yet it was almost within this approach that there were arguments why Ten Hag should not continue. As excellent as this performance was, it was not really the type of football that the Dutch coach needed to introduce. It wasn’t the ‘identity’ he was talking about. It was just the blueprint for Pep Guardiola’s City’s play, even if it was executed to the maximum.
And there is the hinge.
A successful approach for a one-off game does not necessarily indicate a successful approach for the long term. Therefore the point about the center halves is almost misplaced. It was obviously better to have them back, but the real uncertainty without them comes from when United have to play a more expansive game.
This was also the point where Ten Hag’s mood after the match was a bit more questionable. He continued to reiterate how “the team is making progress” and they are “exactly where I want them to be”, but that ranks eighth in the league table, with most games in recent months representing performances in which United have been exposed to extreme pressure . . If he wants them there, it’s easy to understand why INEOS no longer wants Ten Hag.
It was also the reason why this victory stood out all the more. The 2-1 win was by far United’s best of the season, with impressive convincing. The problem was that it felt like a product of the circumstances rather than the broader context and the way the team is managed.
The answer also reflected another problem. Ten Hag has generally refused to accept responsibility, at least publicly.
In turn, he has now collected a second medal of his United career. He has brought the club back to victory. However, its high value doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth keeping.