Erik ten Hag has been criticised for his post-FA Cup semi-final comments on Sunday, with many comparing his mentality to that of legendary Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson.
Teg Hag watched his side scrape through to the final on penalties after they gave up a 3-0 lead to Championship side Coventry City at Wembley on Sunday.
The collapse has been labelled an embarrassment by many, but Ten Hag has denied that this is the case, instead reminding people that United have now reached back-to-back FA Cup finals under his watch.
"We have reached two finals in two years and that is a huge achievement,’ said the under-pressure Dutchman. "I see the mistakes we make. You can’t avoid them. But it’s not an embarrassment, it’s a huge achievement."
🗣️Roy Keane #MUFC pic.twitter.com/M8jOH2yTeU
— Anna (@UTD_Anna_) April 22, 2024
Alex Ferguson quotes in stark contrast to Erik Ten Hag's post-match comments
United have been desperate in the Premier League this season and crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage, but Ten Hag clearly feels that going deep into the cup competitions can paper over these cracks.
Compare this with comments by Ferguson in a clip that has been doing the rounds since United's dismal display yesterday.
Taken from his Aberdeen days, the video shows Ferguson on the Hampden Park pitch after his Dons side beat Rangers 1-0 after extra time to retain the Scottish Cup in 1983.
"We're the luckiest team in the world," he fumes. "It was a disgrace of a performance. [Willie] Miller and [Alex] McLeish won the cup for Aberdeen. Miller and McLeish played Rangers themselves.
"Winning cups doesn't matter. Our standards have been set long ago and I'm not going to accept that from any Aberdeen team. No way can we take any glory from that."
Sir Alex Ferguson after Aberdeen won the Scottish Cup.
Talk about Standards. pic.twitter.com/KgFfrthqhr— centredevils. (@centredevils) April 22, 2024
Ten Hag's days at United look numbered
That Scottish Cup success came just 10 days after Ferguson and Aberdeen stunned Real Madrid by winning the European Cup Winners' Cup final in Gothenburg, during an era in which the Dons broke up the Old Firm dominance in Scotland.
Ferguson's success with Aberdeen ultimately got him the job at Manchester United, where he would go on to become one of the greatest club managers of all-time.
Comparing his quotes with those of Ten Hag and the two men couldn't be further apart when it comes to having a winner's mentality.
Ferguson would rightly have been embarrassed watching what unfolded on Sunday and whether or not United beat Manchester City in the final on May 25th, it would appear as though Ten Hag's days are numbered.
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