Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is preparing for Saturday’s FA Cup final not knowing whether reports he will be sacked are true.
Rumours about Ten Hag’s future intensified on Friday morning before the Guardian reported the Dutchman would lose his job in the aftermath whatever the outcome of Saturday’s Wembley meeting with Manchester City (15:00 BST).
United have refused to comment on the story.
Club sources are adamant their focus is purely on the second consecutive cup final meeting with Pep Guardiola’s side and trying to end what has been a tortuous season on a high.
There have been discussions with potential managerial targets but it is being stressed they remain committed to an end-of-season review, after which a decision on Ten Hag’s future will be made.
BBC Sport understands there has been no contact with Ten Hag or his representatives by United since the Guardian report.
In an interview with Dutch football magazine Voetbal International, published on Saturday, Ten Hag said United’s new co-owners – Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group – had told him they “want to change everything and that they want to rebuild with me. This is what they told me directly”.
In a section of his pre-match news conference on Thursday, the content from which was embargoed until Friday evening, Ten Hag was asked whether talks were planned with the club’s new ownership group next week.
“No, we already did it and on Sunday I will go on holiday,” he said. “I think I deserve it.”
When he was then asked if he had been given any assurances about his future with the club, where his contract still has a year to run, Ten Hag replied: “It is not necessary. We will go for next season.”
The situation has uneasy echoes of eight years ago, when Ten Hag’s fellow Dutchman Louis van Gaal learned he was about to be sacked as the 2016 final victory ended against Crystal Palace.
Van Gaal was informed of the decision by United’s hierarchy 24 hours later.
United go into the FA Cup final with City knowing defeat will mean no European football next season for only the second time since 1981-82, excluding the five-year period when all English clubs were banned.
They finished eighth in the Premier League, one place below the David Moyes season of 2013-14, and their lowest since 1989-90.
Replacements have been suggested in the form of Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, Mauricio Pochettino, Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank and others.Read Full Article