NORMALLY getting to the FA Cup final would mark a time for celebration and be billed as a huge achievement.
However, you would not know that was the case for Manchester United after they laboured their way into the final following a stunning collapse against Coventry in yesterday’s semi-final.
Having found themselves 3-0 down with 20 minutes left, the Championship side mounted an incredible comeback before losing out on penalties.
Despite reaching a second consecutive Cup final, another Red Devils embarrassment has left Erik ten Hag’s role untenable for many fans.
Below par displays in the league have left Man Utd staring down the prospect of finishing below seventh, which would be their worst ever finish in a Premier League season.
Ten Hag, 54, has the chance to salvage the season by winning the FA Cup, though claiming victory over defending champions Manchester City on the May 25 final will not be easy.
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But does that mean he will still be at the helm come the start of next season, the first to be led by the club’s new minority owners Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe after they took over the sporting operation at Old Trafford?
Well pundits have had their say on the matter, and many paint a bleak picture for the Dutchman, regardless of FA Cup glory.
Speaking about Ten Hag’s future on Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher said: “I think that result today has just cost a Manchester United manager his job.
“I don’t see how Erik ten Hag stays. It’s just performance after performance.
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I would imagine that is probably the most embarrassing dressing room of a team that has just won a big game.”
Man Utd legend Gary Neville was more optimistic, believing it would be “extreme” to sack a manager who has won two trophies in two years.
Pundits verdict on Ten Hag’s future
Where do the pundits stand on Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United future
Jamie Carragher – Sacked
“I don’t see how Erik ten Hag stays. It’s just performance after performance.”
Gary Neville – Stay if he wins the FA Cup
“To sack a manager who’s won two trophies in his first two seasons at the club I think would be extreme.”
Louis Saha – On the fence
“I don’t see it as clearly but they need changes from the players but they need changes from him as well.”
Alan Shearer – Sacked
“I believe the future of the Man Utd manager is already determined. Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone.”
He said: “My view would be that if he won the FA Cup and he won a trophy last season, to sack a manager who’s won two trophies in his first two seasons at the club I think would be extreme.
“Winning trophies can never ever be underestimated. If you’ve got a knack for winning trophies and you just get through things I don’t think you can dismiss that.
“There’s a good chance they (Ineos) would (sack Ten Hag). They’ve wiped everything else out at the top of the club and if he wins a trophy and it’s two trophies on the bounce, that’s tough.”
Fellow ex-Man Utd star Louis Saha understood the argument for a new boss but said he did not see it as clearly.
He told Sky Sports: “When you look at these performances you may say they need a real reshape.
“The three people (Omar Berrada, Jason Wilcox, Dan Ashworth) have different philosophy and maybe bring something else, maybe they can benefit from that.
“I don’t see it as clearly but they need changes from the players but they need changes from him as well.”
Man Utd are LUCKY to be seventh in the table… one particular stat is terrible, say Dave Kidd
By Dave Kidd
THE frightening thing about Manchester United’s season is that they should really be LOWER than seventh in the Premier League.
Even during their current run of one win in seven league matches, United’s results have been better than their performances.
Erik ten Hag’s team deserved to lose each of their last three drawn games against Brentford, Liverpool and Bournemouth.
On goal difference, United are ninth in the league, while only seven teams have scored fewer than their 47 goals.
And if we give any credence to ‘expected points’, then that stat would have them 15th in the table.
If Ten Hag’s men lose Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final to Championship side Coventry, it should not come as a major surprise.
Click here to read Dave Kidd’s column in full.
To read more from Dave Kidd, click here.
BBC pundit Alan Shearer agreed with Carragher that Ten Hag would not be in place next season, revealing he believes the future to already be determined.
He said on The Rest Is Football podcast: “I believe the future of the Man Utd manager is already determined. Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone.
“I don’t think it matters whether they win the FA Cup for his future. That may be sad, that may be wrong but I just get the feeling that winning the FA Cup is not going to be enough for him.
“When you look at the players, when you look at the attitude, when you at where they are in the league and all of those things [against], where they want to be, where they want to go in a quick time, I think he’s already gone.
“I don’t know it. It’s just a guess but I look at the players, there attitudes and ability, I just get the feeling.”
SunSport exclusively revealed earlier this month how Man Utd stars feared Ten Hag was resigned to the sack.
Reports last week also suggested several players were delaying decisions on their futures with Ten Hag’s future unknown.
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A number of names have been linked with the Old Trafford hot seat, including Graham Potter, Gareth Southgate, Thiago Motta and most recently Thomas Tuchel.
After the narrow FA Cup triumph Man Utd can now focus on their league campaign, with Sheffield United and Burnley coming up in the next two games.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
