The future of Manchester United’s coach, Erik ten Hag, seems as precarious as a bell hanging by a thread as he hopes to salvage what he himself deems a “disappointing” season, clinging onto the prospect of glory in the national cup. Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand believes that coach Erik ten Hag won’t continue leading the team. He doubts the Dutch strategist’s chances of staying at Old Trafford, even if they secure victory in the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25th.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand expressed his skepticism about the possibility of Ten Hag remaining at the club beyond this season, regardless of the outcome of the final match. He stated, “I’m thinking about Ten Hag’s future, and regardless of whether they win or lose in the final game, I don’t believe he’ll be there next season. I’m not saying that Manchester United sacking Ten Hag is something I want. I’m only talking about what I believe will happen, and I think the club will seek another option. I also don’t think that winning the FA Cup changes anything in the eyes of INEOS, although that’s just my assumption.”
Manchester United has been eyeing several potential replacements for Ten Hag, including Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Gareth Southgate, and Kieran McKenna, but nothing has been officially announced before May 25th.
Rio Ferdinand, the football expert, also expressed dissatisfaction with Manchester United’s performance this season. He believes that despite injuries being a factor, the players could still perform better. Ferdinand analyzed the team’s reliance on captain Bruno Fernandes, stating, “Setting injuries aside, as every club deals with them, the team’s performance has been abysmal. Most teams have injuries, maybe not to the extent of Manchester United. I keep repeating this like a broken record: the level of performance may drop, but your style of play must be identifiable. Manchester United lacks that. I don’t know how Manchester United plays, or what type of team we are. Clearly, they rely too much on Bruno Fernandes. This is a warning sign for Manchester United. Look, when Bruno is absent from the lineup, the decline in the team’s quality is almost comical. Their performances have been very poor, something I haven’t seen in many years.”
Manchester United defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 at The Amex in the Premier League. The Red Devils finished the Premier League season in eighth place in the standings and currently, they cannot qualify for European competitions next season. However, Manchester United could secure a spot in the Europa League if they defeat Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25th.
Manchester United has had their worst performance since the establishment of the major domestic league in 1992 and now they need to beat reigning champions Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, which is not an easy task at all. Manchester City used to be considered the noisy neighbor of Manchester United, but the tables have turned. And regardless of whether Manchester United wins the FA Cup, the future of coach Erik ten Hag seems very uncertain, reminiscent of Luis van Gaal who was dismissed less than two days after winning the national cup.