Manchester United to Sack Coach Ten Hag After FA Cup Final
Manchester United will reportedly dismiss manager Erik ten Hag following the FA Cup final against Manchester City, regardless of the outcome at Wembley, according to The Guardian.
The Premier League club is said to have made this decisive move after a disappointing season.
Should Ten Hag’s two-year tenure conclude after the City match, it would echo the departure of fellow Dutchman Louis van Gaal, who was sacked two days after United’s FA Cup victory over Crystal Palace in 2016.
United finished a dismal eighth in the Premier League this season — their lowest position since 1990 — and were eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League.
Ten Hag has faced considerable speculation about his future, especially after British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe acquired a minority stake in the club and took control of football operations.
However, United maintains that no final decision has been made regarding Ten Hag’s future, and a comprehensive review will be conducted after Saturday’s final against the Premier League champions, who are aiming for their second consecutive league and FA Cup double.
Potential replacements linked to the club include Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, England’s Gareth Southgate, and Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, a former coach at Old Trafford.
Ahead of the recent report, United goalkeeper Andre Onana commented that the final is “extra motivation” after a challenging season marred by injuries and underperformance from key players.
“We lost to City twice already this season,” Onana said. “They are the best team at the moment and we respect them, but we are going to Wembley to win. It’s a final.”
Onana, who previously worked with Ten Hag at Ajax, defended his manager, describing him as a “good guy and a good coach.”
“Tactically, he is very capable and showed his quality last season,” said the Cameroon international. “I wasn’t here last season, but the team finished in the top four. This season has been tough for him, for us, and for the club and fans.”
Saturday’s match presents United with an opportunity for silverware against their fierce rivals and a chance to secure a spot in the Europa League.
