Manchester United have taken a decisive position on Erik ten Hag‘s sack before the FA Cup final.
There have been heightening pressure on Ten Hag, but the Dutchman will finish the season as United’s boss. The Old Trafford club’s struggled to beat Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday. The latest ugly development has since piled more pressure on the under-fire manager.
United appeared to be cruising into a second consecutive FA Cup final with a 3-0 lead against Coventry. The Red Devils failed to wrap up a comfortable win after goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes had given them a healthy lead against their Championship opposition.
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Yet another woeful capitulation by United saw Coventry score three times in 25 minutes. Ten Hag and his men were thus forced into extra time where they also struck the bar before being denied a dramatic winner after a VAR check.
A 4-2 triumph on penalties was only enough to help United limp into next month’s final against Manchester City.
The Red Devils have lately endured the ugly pattern of collapsing under pressure. This undesirable trend has effectively ended United’s hopes Champions League football next season. They have surrendered leads late on against Liverpool, Chelsea and Brentford in recent weeks.
Ten Hag had endured immense pressure with notable pundits effectively envisaging an end to his reign at United. Jamie Carragher believes it is time to show the former Ajax boss the exit door in the wake of Sunday’s performance. Another pundit, Alan Shearer also shares same opinion as former Liverpool hero.
However, the Guardian claims that ten Hag’s job is safe for now. It is reported that there are no plans to part ways with the 54-year-old before the FA Cup final showdown against City on 25 May.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe had watched on in horror as United crumbled on Sunday. But it is believed the INEOS chief will stick with ten Hag for the remainder of the season.
United hierarchy are understood to have considered the club’s high number of injuries as a factor to their underwhelming season.
It however remains to be seen whether the Dutchman will remain at the helm beyond the summer. Ten Hag will enter the final year of his contract this summer after he signed a three-year deal on his arrived in 2022.