Manchester United's preparation for the FA Cup final has been clouded by rumours surrounding the future of manager Erik ten Hag.
The Dutchman has found himself under pressure this season, with United enduring their worst league campaign in 34 years and exiting the Champions League at the group stages.
An unlikely victory in Saturday's FA Cup final against rivals Manchester City is the only thing which could put an air of respectability on this season. It appears as though it may not be enough, however, to save ten Hag's job.
Reports in the Guardian on Friday suggest that United have already decided to part ways with ten Hag after the final, regardless of the result. Separate reports in the Athletic suggest that the club have made initial contact with Kieran McKenna as a potential replacement.
It is a strange way to enter FA Cup final day and it has been made even stranger by an interview with ten Hag released in the Dutch media on Saturday morning.
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Strong Erik ten Hag interview emerges amid Manchester United rumours
6 August 2023; Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
With the footballing world almost accepting that Erik ten Hag will not be Manchester United's manager next season, the Dutchman has come out swinging.
In an interview with Voetbal International in his native Netherlands, ten Hag confidently stated that he believed he would still be at Old Trafford next season. Ten Hag also outlined his priority areas in the transfer window, suggesting that he believes he will still be the boss come August:
Most interestingly, ten Hag came out firing against some of the criticism he has received this season, saying that fans and pundits had unrealistic expectations of him and the squad, especially when they have suffered so many injuries this season.
Manchester United won the league for the last time in 2013, 11 years ago. But still they expect us to win every game while competing at the top. This club is not ready for that.
We were supposed to start building something and we made the first steps last year, but then you find out how big this club is and that nobody is ever satisfied.
Within the club people were satisfied, but outside the club there was noise by saying I won only the Carabao Cup, lost the FA Cup Final and became 3rd.
Well, then you have no sense of reality. Other clubs had a much better squad.
The pundits in England want to score, they want to show they are worth the money, and for that Manchester United is an easy pray.
It’s the biggest club in England and possibly in the world. The club is either loved or hated, there is no in-between.
So when things go bad, they all start talking and talking with very big words. All this negativism from these so called experts who don’t have the capability to analyze something with facts, but who prefer to attack people to make themselves look better.
Quite remarkably strong words from Erik ten Hag, especially in the lead-up to the biggest game of his and Manchester United's season.
It's a rather bold motivational strategy to throw your players under the bus in the hours leading up to a cup final. One has to wonder how well it will pan out.
Ten Hag certainly seems to believe he will be in charge next season regardless of the derby result on Saturday, saying, "INEOS told me that they want to change everything and that they want to rebuild with me - this is what they told me directly."
Given how dire this season has been for Manchester United, it would not be a surprise to see the Dutchman walking out the exit door.
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