Manchester United manager prepares for FA Cup final amid sack reports

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is preparing for the FA Cup final amid uncertainty regarding reports that he will be sacked regardless of the outcome.

Rumors about Ten Hag’s future intensified on Friday morning, with The Guardian reporting that the Dutchman would be dismissed regardless of the result of the Wembley clash with Manchester City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

United have not commented on the story.

Club sources insist their focus is solely on the upcoming cup final against Pep Guardiola’s side, aiming to conclude a challenging season on a high note.

It is emphasized that the club remains committed to conducting an end-of-season review, after which a decision regarding Ten Hag’s future will be made.

BBC Sport understands that there has been no contact between United and Ten Hag or his representatives.

The situation has unsettling similarities to eight years ago when Louis van Gaal, another Dutchman, learned he was being sacked after winning the 2016 final against Crystal Palace.

Van Gaal was notified of the decision by United’s hierarchy 24 hours later.

As United approach the FA Cup final against City, they are aware that defeat would mean no European football next season, marking only the second time this has happened since 1981-82, excluding the five-year period when all English clubs were banned.

They finished eighth in the Premier League, which is one spot lower than their position in David Moyes’ 2013-14 season and their lowest since 1989-90.

Potential replacements have been suggested, including Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, Mauricio Pochettino, Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank, among others.

In a segment of his pre-match press conference on Thursday, 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.”

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel believes Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group, which acquired a 27.7% stake in the club in February, will part ways with Ten Hag as they pursue their “project.”

Ineos assumed control of football operations after becoming a minority owner, with former Manchester City executive Omar Berrada set to join United as chief executive this summer, and Jason Wilcox already joining as technical director.

United are also aiming to hire sporting director Dan Ashworth, who was placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United after expressing his desire to join the Red Devils.

“We’ve been talking about Erik’s position for a very, very long time,” Schmeichel told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“We’ve seen everybody else at the top of Manchester United has left the club and new people coming in.

“I’d be very surprised if he’s the manager next year to be honest because, the way they’ve been going about the first couple of months in charge, it points to they want a completely new and a clean start and want it to be their project.”

He added: “I hate that fact that Manchester United has become a club that keeps a manager for a short time and when things are not going in the right direction you sack him.

“Since Alex Ferguson’s time it’s really just eroding with no leadership from the top and it’s just been let go.

“I really honestly don’t know what the project is.”