Sir Jim Ratcliffe refused to answer a question on Erik ten Hag’s future after the FA Cup final amid speculation that the Dutchman could be sacked as Manchester United boss.
Ten Hag has won two trophies in his two seasons at United, having ended the club’s six-season wait for silverware in last year’s League Cup final. However, United recorded their worst ever Premier League finish this campaign, finishing eighth on 60 points and minus-one goal difference.
However, they will still play Europa League football next season due to winning the FA Cup. Whether Ten Hag will manage the club in the competition in the new campaign remains unclear.
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Reports on Friday suggested that Ten Hag was set to be dismissed regardless of how United fared in Saturday’s showpiece. Ratcliffe shook the hand of Ten Hag on the Wembley gantry before United lifted the trophy.
Ratcliffe was later seen walking through the corridors of Wembley, when a reporter asked whether Ten Hag’s job was safe. The United co-owner, flanked by Ineos sporting chief Sir Dave Brailsford, turned around after hearing his name before turning back around to walk into another room.
Ten Hag defended his work at United after full-time, saying the club was “a mess” when he first arrived but was committed to seeing out his project at Old Trafford. He told the BBC: “I don’t know [if this was my last game].
“But the only thing I am doing is preparing my team, developing my team, progressing my players because for me this is a project. When I came in, it was a mess and we are now better but we are not where we want to be.”
Ten Hag added: “Football is about winning trophies. At the end of the day, 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 you have to win trophies and now we are. That is the mentality we brought in.
“We only had one opportunity – the FA Cup – and we did it. As I say, I am so proud of the players and staff because they have done an incredible job.”
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