With rumours circulating that Erik ten Hag is set to be sacked as Manchester United manager, the Dutchman has come out swinging in defence of his tenure at the club.
It has been suggested that the club hierarchy have decided to part ways with the 54-year old, regardless of the result in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. The likes of Kieran McKenna and Thomas Tuchel have already been linked with the position.
Previously viewed as one of the best up and coming coaches in European football, it's fair to say that ten Hag's reputation has taken a battering this season. Manchester United have been incredibly poor for large stretches this season, with the club being condemned to their worst league finish in 34 years.
In an interview with Dutch media that was published this morning, he would defend his record and suggest that expectations were too high at Old Trafford.
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.
While those comments have caused quite the reaction, some feel that the pressure surrounding Erik ten Hag should not come as a surprise.
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Roy Keane hints that pressure mounting on Erik Ten Hag is justified
Roy Keane has often been hesitant to criticise Manchester United managers in the past, but he thinks that the mounting pressure on Erik ten Hag is perhaps not without reason.
Speaking on ITV ahead of the FA Cup final, the Irishman said that the 'negativity' around the club was justified due to the team's performances on the pitch this season. However, he felt that the players should not use that as an excuse for this afternoon's cup final.
It's not great. There's a lot of negativity around that and speculation around the manager doesn't help when you're in the dressing room.
But there's a reason for that noise and negativity. It's because of the way United have been performing, particularly over the last few months.
Their league performances and performances in Europa haven't been good enough, where they finished in league was obviously very, very poor. There's a reason for that.
If you've got a half decent dressing room with decent characters, you've got to put that negativity to the side...
It's really important from the player's point of view that you don't use that as an excuse either. There has been a lot of speculation about the manager and that he's leaving, but don't use that as an excuse.
You need pride and conviction in what you're going to do, it shouldn't creep into that dressing room.
That is a fair assessment.
It is likely that today's game will have little effect on the club's ultimate decision when it comes to Erik ten Hag's future at Manchester United, with his body of work over the last number of months the more decisive factor.
That does not bode well for his chances of being at Old Trafford next season.
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