Erik ten Hag celebrated lifting the FA Cup on Saturday and then told Manchester United: ‘If you don’t want me, I’ll go and win trophies somewhere else.’
United’s 2-1 win over Manchester City at Wembley came against a backdrop of intense speculation over Ten Hag’s future and revelations that the co-owners Ineos have held secret talks with potential replacements.
A defiant Ten Hag said: ‘I don’t think about this. I am in a project and we are exactly where we want to be. We are on our way to constructing a team for the future.
‘It will go with ups and down. When I took over we were in a mess at United. The team is developing and at the end of the day it is about winning trophies.
‘Two trophies in two years is not bad, three finals in two years is not bad. We have to keep going.
Erik ten Hag has made one final plea to save his job as Man United manager before the summer
The Dutchman led United to an FA Cup final victory over rivals Manchester City on Saturday
Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be the person to decide the future of the 54-year-old – who is in charge of footballing operations at United – becoming involved at the club as part-owner earlier this year
‘I’m not satisfied with it. We have to do better and if they don’t want me anymore, then I go somewhere else to win trophies because that is what I did my whole career.
‘I want to play the best football, I want to play dynamic football, attacking football. But in the end you have to win games and win trophies. That’s the mentality we brought in.
‘We had only one opportunity, the FA Cup. I’m very proud of the players and the staff because they did an incredible job.’
Asked if he still has the support of his employers, Ten Hag added: ‘That is what they always tell me. I don’t have doubt but of course it’s not up to me.
‘I don’t know if they have done this (spoken to other managers). I can’t answer this question.’
United avenged their 2-1 defeat to City at Wembley a year ago as Ten Hag added the FA Cup to his Carabao Cup success last season, and led his team into the Europa League.
He added: ‘It is always difficult to compare but the FA Cup was absolutely one on my bucket list. It is such a huge trophy, so I am happy we won it with the players the team and the staff.
‘I really enjoyed this final. Lifting the trophy but especially the way we played. If you play in this level against the best team in the world I am very pleased.
Ten Hag joined his side on the balcony for the trophy lift following what could be his final game
He once again blamed his side’s season struggles on injuries, and was able to field the likes of Bruno Fernandes (right), who had been previously struggling for fitness, in the final
‘When you see the last decade, there were not so many finals and trophies for this club, and not so many young talents coming through in high potential.’
Ten Hag re-iterated that United still need to strengthen after a season decimated by injuries.
‘You need the players to be available and need a strong squad in top football, especially when you play in England and Europe,’ he said.
‘The Premier League is so competitive so you need a very good squad and you need players available. There is still a lot of work to do but we are exactly where we are. The team is progressing and we are winning trophies.’
