Erik ten Hag is waiting to discover if winning the FA Cup will be enough to save his job as Manchester United boss.
United’s 2-1 triumph over Manchester City at Wembley was overshadowed by a frenzy of speculation over Ten Hag’s future after co-owners Ineos held talks with potential replacements Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Frank and Kieran McKenna.
United are now conducting an end-of-season review before making a decision on Ten Hag, who has been monitored by Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford and the club’s new technical director Jason Wilcox in recent months.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe went into United’s dressing room after the game to congratulate Ten Hag and his players, but the Ineos owner did not attend a celebration at the Marriott hotel in Mayfair on Saturday night, and nor did co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer.
Ten Hag went on holiday yesterday having issued a defiant message to his bosses that he would ‘go somewhere else to win trophies’ if they don’t want him.
Erik ten Hag faces an anxious wait to discover whether his job as Man United manager is safe
Thomas Tuchel (left) and Mauricio Pochettino (right) are among the potential replacements
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There is also a question of whether the trust between the Dutchman and Ineos has been irreparably broken after they spoke to managers behind his back despite offering him assurances over his position.
Ten Hag still has 13 months left on the three-year deal he signed after moving from Ajax in 2022 but some of his staff, such as forwards coach Benni McCarthy, will be out of contract next month and are now in limbo.
Ten Hag’s prospects looked grim after United’s worst league finish in 34 years meant they missed out on automatic qualification for Europe for only the second time since 1990. Yet victory over City earned him a second trophy in two years and clinched a Europa League place.
The nature of the win at Wembley — outwitting Pep Guardiola and denying the Premier League champions the Double — has given Ratcliffe and Ineos food for thought. The fans appeared to be firmly behind Ten Hag and so did his team. Several senior players have returned in recent games, which the 54-year-old has always maintained would improve United’s form.
Despite winning the FA Cup, there is plenty of uncertainty over ten Hag’s future at the club
‘We didn’t have those players available,’ Ten Hag said at Wembley. ‘Now we put out quality and also we have quality on the bench. There you see we have an identity, there you can see this team showed character. This team can transfer a plan on to the pitch against a very good Manchester City.’
Ten Hag’s signature was on an open letter issued by the United squad to fans yesterday thanking them for their support throughout a difficult season. It read: ‘We know how much this club means to so many people — in Manchester and around the world.
‘The backing you have given to us, even during times when we fell short of the standards that we set for ourselves, has been unbelievable. We know this season has not been good enough and we make no excuses. But we ended it in the best way possible, celebrating a trophy all together.’
