Ten Hag on Man Utd future: 'I'll go somewhere else to win trophies'

Tom Weber

Updated: 25 May 2024 19:57 BST
3 min read

Erik ten Hag is sure that he will have plenty of suitors should Manchester United decide to sack him.

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Saturday, May 25, 2024, was all about Ten Hag. The Dutchman made headlines in the morning when an explosive interview with Dutch outlet Voetbal International was published. In the evening, he made yet more headlines for outcoaching Pep Guardiola in the FA Cup final.

While the expectation is still that the triumph in football's most storied cup competition won't be enough to keep the Dutchman in a job, it was proof that Ten Hag is not a bad coach despite Man Utd's dire season, which saw them record their worst league finish in decades.

The 2-1 win over Man City thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo illustrated what Ten Hag's legacy at Man Utd will be should he indeed depart in the coming days.

The 54-year-old's two-year stint at the club will likely be swiftly forgotten, but he will forever be credited with giving Garnacho and Mainoo the opportunity to establish themselves as key players.

'It's what I do'

In recent weeks, with the pressure mounting, the coach has been increasingly prickly and almost Jose Mourinho-esque when facing the media. A bit of Mourinho again came out when Ten Hag spoke after the Man City match.

Whether it was due to being frustrated about again having to address his future or simply cockiness after a very impressive win, Ten Hag raised eyebrows with his brash comments, insisting that he would be fine with being sacked as he would simply go somewhere else to win titles.

"Two trophies in two seasons and three finals," Ten Hag said. "That’s not bad. If they don’t want me anymore, I'll go somewhere else to win trophies. That is what I do. I am here to win and I want to build a team. My whole managerial career I have won games and trophies."