May 24th 2024.
On Saturday, Erik ten Hag will be fighting for his job at Wembley stadium in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. The Dutchman has been under immense pressure and scrutiny for the final months of the season, with his future at Manchester United hanging in the balance. However, regardless of the outcome of the match, a verdict should already have been reached.
Just five days ago, Ten Hag declared that United are in a better position than they were a year ago, despite their disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League. This season, they have had their worst finish in 34 years and have lost more games than any other United side in the Premier League era. It's also the first time since 1990 that they have ended the season with a negative goal difference.
In a repeat of last year's final, United will be facing a City side who finished 31 points ahead of them in the league, securing a record haul of four consecutive league titles. A win on Saturday might temporarily erase some of the memories of this season's struggles, but it's clear that there can only be one decision when it comes to Ten Hag's future.
The pressure on Ten Hag intensified following the purchase of a 27.7% stake in the club by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS in February. The arrival of Jason Wilcox as the new technical director also added to the scrutiny, as he began conducting an audit of the manager's credentials. This process started after United's near fatal collapse against Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final.
A draw against second-bottom side Burnley a week later did little to help Ten Hag's case, and a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace only added to the problems. These struggles have been a recurring theme throughout the season, and it's clear that a decision needs to be made.
Despite the mediocrity shown by United this season, there have been some significant moments, such as notable fightbacks against Brentford and Aston Villa in the league. The FA Cup quarter-final heroics against Liverpool, followed by a draw with them in the league, played a crucial role in denying their arch-rivals the perfect send-off for their departing head coach. Even their recent performance against title-chasing Arsenal was an improvement.
However, the idea that a one-off win in the FA Cup final will dictate the biggest decision United can make is a sign of the haphazard and emotional decision-making that the club is trying to move away from. They have been guilty of relying on false dawns for the past decade, with "turning points" often leading to more failures.
Ten Hag will argue that there have been mitigating circumstances, such as a defensive crisis that has forced him to name 14 different combinations at the back this season. The dramatic downturn in form of Marcus Rashford is another issue that has not helped the manager's cause. The lack of support and communication from Ratcliffe and INEOS, who have been keeping their options open, has also not helped the situation.
However, as club legend Rio Ferdinand pointed out, the writing seems to be on the wall for Ten Hag. The ongoing search for a new manager at Chelsea only adds to the need for quick and decisive action. It may lead the club to a similar situation they faced eight years ago when Louis van Gaal was relieved of his duties just hours after guiding the team to victory over Crystal Palace at Wembley. History may have to repeat itself.
In conclusion, it's clear that Ten Hag's future at Manchester United hangs in the balance, and a decision needs to be made regardless of the outcome of the FA Cup final. The club must move away from their habit of relying on short-lived successes and make a decisive and long-term decision for the betterment of the team. The pressure and scrutiny on Ten Hag will only continue to grow, and the club cannot afford to wait any longer.
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