Ten Hag got the better of Pep Guardiola in what could be his final game as Manchester United manager. Photo: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt
A defiant Erik ten Hag told Manchester United he would “go somewhere to win trophies” if the club decided to sack him after winning the FA Cup.
United – who came into Wembley as 8-1 underdogs – produced their best performance of the season to beat Manchester City 2-1 thanks to goals from teenagers Alejandro Garnacho and Kobby Maine to deny the Premier League champions a historic double.< /p>
Despite lifting Ten Hag's second trophy of his reign – following last season's Carabao Cup – and ending a torrid, injury-plagued high-level campaign, Ten Hag remains at real risk of being sacked by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team Ineos.
But the Dutchman, who won three Eredivisie titles and two Dutch Cups with Ajax, warned United that he could only succeed at another club if they decided to swing the axe.< /p>
“Two trophies in two years is not bad, three finals in two years is not bad,” the United manager said. “We have to keep going. I'm not happy with that, we have to do better and if they don't want me anymore then I'll go somewhere else to win trophies because that's what I've done my whole career.
“When I started here, I said I'm here to win and I want to build a team, both [those things] I do, but if they don't want me anymore, I go somewhere else and, like I did in My whole managerial career I've won matches and won trophies.”
Ten Hag, who is due to go on holiday on Sunday, added: “I'm not thinking about it [the sacking]. I'm working on a project and we are exactly where we want to be, we are on our way to creating the team of the future. I'll go with the ups and downs. When I took over, we had problems at United.
“The team develops, the team wins and in the end it is about winning trophies and the team also plays for individuality. But you need players to be available and you need a strong team in top-flight football, especially when you play in England and Europe.
“There is still a lot of work to be done but… our team is valuable, high potential is very good progresses, the team progresses and we win trophies.”
Ratcliffe excludes Ten Haeg from celebratory statement
Ratcliffe refused to answer a question from a television journalist before he left Wembley whether Ten Hag, who for 34 years oversaw United's lowest league finish and eighth-place finish in the Premier League, would remain as manager.
Owner Ineos, which has full control of football operations at Old Trafford as part of its minority investment in the club, did not mention Ten Haeg in a statement welcoming the victory.
Ratcliffe and Ten Haeg shook hands after the Dutchman was presented with his winner's medal, although the billionaire had previously enjoyed a much warmer embrace with city manager Pep Guardiola, whom he leaned in to hug before whispering something in the Catalan's ear.
“It’s a great feeling to win the FA Cup final at Wembley,” Ratcliffe said. Manchester United were clearly not favorites to win today, but they played with dedication and skill and beat one of the greatest teams in football. We are all very proud of the players and staff who work tirelessly to support them.”
United management are due to conduct a thorough review of the season next week. Asked whether he would remain at the club, Ten Hag replied: “I don’t know. I don't doubt [myself], but of course it's not up to me.
“This season is a complete mess, that's true, but there are reasons, and in the end we won the next trophy. The potential is great, but it takes time.
“I want to play the best football, I want to play dynamic, attacking football. But you need to win games and win trophies. That's the mentality we brought.”
Erik ten Hag's sacking will make Sir Jim Ratcliffe look like a villain – but he still have to do it. Read more Fernandes: We all deserve it
Last week United held talks with representatives of a number of managers, including Kieran McKenna and Thomas Tuchel. Asked about this and whether he felt slighted, Ten Hag replied: “I don’t know if they did it. I can't answer this question. Perhaps you have sources. I don’t have them.”
When asked how he could say United were “exactly where they want to be” after finishing eighth in the league, Ten Hag replied: “When you make that [comment], I'm sorry to say it, but you don't have any knowledge about football and football team management. When you don't have players available, you won't be able to perform. Just like that one. If this is an opinion, then no problem. Then I go somewhere else and continue to win trophies. When the players aren't there, I can't coach them, I can't coach them, and they can't develop. We won't get the results we want.”
Bruno Fernandes, United's captain, refused to go into detail about whether Ten Hag deserved to remain as manager. “It’s not for me to decide, I’m just a footballer.”
When asked about Ten Hag’s rights in the match against City, Fernandez added: “That’s it. He prepares well for every game. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. You could see it was about compactness and pressing between the lines.
“It's important for everyone. We know that the coach is under such close scrutiny, he deserves it, and so do all the staff and players, we all deserve it.”
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