Following Manchester United’s FA Cup victory, Sir Jim Ratcliffe was approached by a reporter about Erik ten Hag’s future at the club. Ratcliffe paused to hear the question but ultimately ignored it and walked away.
This incident has sparked speculation about whether Chelsea’s recent managerial changes, particularly the exit of Mauricio Pochettino, might influence Manchester United’s decisions regarding ten Hag.
Despite leading United to a significant win over Manchester City at Wembley, securing his second trophy in two years, ten Hag’s future remains uncertain.
The Dutch manager, who is 54, made a final appeal to retain his job after the FA Cup triumph, highlighting the success achieved under his leadership.
A decision regarding ten Hag’s position was anticipated following the final, especially with Ratcliffe, who recently acquired a minority stake in the club, making significant off-the-field changes.
Ratcliffe is expected to decide ten Hag’s fate, with potential candidates like Mauricio Pochettino and Kieran McKenna being linked to the role. However, Ratcliffe remained silent on his plans when questioned on Saturday.
A video posted by @BradJCox_ on X (formerly Twitter) shows Ratcliffe walking through the mixed zone at Wembley, congratulating ten Hag and the team on their victory before the trophy presentation.
As he moved toward the exit with Sir Dave Brailsford by his side, a reporter called out, “Sir Jim, is Erik staying?” Ratcliffe stopped, seemingly prepared to listen, but then turned his back and exited without responding, leaving murmurs in his wake.
Ten Hag, uncertain about his future, acknowledged after the match that he didn’t know if he had just managed his final game for United.
He attributed the team’s disappointing season, which saw them finish eighth in the Premier League and secure European qualification solely through the FA Cup win, to injuries.
In a BBC interview, ten Hag expressed pride in the team’s progress and emphasized his ongoing commitment to developing a winning, dynamic, and attacking football style at United.
He described the club as a “mess” when he arrived and highlighted the improvements made under his tenure.
Ten Hag reiterated that football is about winning trophies and expressed pride in the players and staff for seizing their opportunity to secure the FA Cup.
Despite the uncertainty, he remains focused on preparing and developing his team, underscoring the project’s ongoing nature and the desire to achieve more in the future.
Leave a Reply