ERIK TEN HAG broke his silence as he faced questions on rumours of his imminent sacking.
The Manchester United boss is set to be sacked regardless of the outcome in the FA Cup final.
The Red Devils face rivals Manchester City at Wembley.
And quizzed by the BBC how much the strong talk about his possible exit affected the preparation for the crunch clash, Ten Hag was clear.
He defiantly said: “[It has] not.
“I am focused on the game and the team.
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“I don’t talk about my future.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the team and winning the cup.”
The Dutchman heads into the FA Cup final off the back of an eighth-placed finish – United’s lowest position in Premier League history.
SunSport revealed he expects to be relieved of his duties at Old Trafford – even if they spring a major surprise against Pep Guardiola’s winning machine.
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Ten Hag added: “Two years after each other we’re in the final but this year we want to win.
“The mood is very good, strong spirit, strong belief, a tough opponent and we have to give everything we have, sacrifice, suffer but be brave and let them suffer as well.
“We have to be on the front foot and be aggressive. It’s about mentality.
“If we have a strong belief and are brave then you have the opportunity. We had the opportunity last year but didn’t take it.”
There was a last-minute change to the Manchester United squad after the team news came out at 2pm.
Casemiro was initially named among the substitutes but was then withdrawn from the bench with Willy Kambwala brought in.
Ten Hag’s five worst defeats
ERIK TEN HAG has suffered some heavy defeats during his tenure as Manchester United manager.
5. Copenhagen 4-3 Man Utd, November 2023
The damaging defeat saw the Red Devils dumped out of the Champions League.
4. Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth, December 2023
It was the first time the Cherries had ever won at Old Trafford with the players being booed off.
3. Brentford 4-0 Man Utd, August 2022
Perhaps a sign of things to come, in Ten Hag’s second Premier League game, his side was dismantled by the Bees.
2. Crystal Palace 4-0 Man Utd, May 2024
The heavy defeat to the Eagles saw the Dutchman edge ever closer to the sack.
1. Liverpool 7-0 Man Utd, March 2023
Man Utd were embarrassed at the hands of their bitter rivals as they crumbled at Anfield as it was the club’s worst defeat in 92 years.
Ten Hag explained the Brazilian’s absence: “Casemiro is not 100 per cent and in that space around Phil Foden we need a strong defence.”
Earlier on, a bombshell interview in Holland dropped just hours before the Cup final.
In it, the Red Devils boss insists he wants to help rebuild the club.
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He also criticised pundits and fans who have “no sense of reality” regarding the state of the Old Trafford club.
However, the candidates are already being lined up to replace Ten Hag – including former coach and Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
