LONDON: Erik ten Hag warned Manchester United owners he would continue winning trophies elsewhere if they decided to sack him after their 2-1 win over Manchester City in the English FA Cup final last night.
Ten Hag’s lead-up to the final was haunted by reports he would be sacked no matter what the decision at Wembley.
But the United manager has made a strong case to remain in charge of the team if he overcomes City boss Pep Guardiola and win his second trophy in two years in charge.
Now Ten Hag will have to wait for his fate after insisting he was not informed whether he would be fired.
United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and members of the Glazer family, who are the club’s majority shareholders, celebrated the team’s first FA Cup win for eight years from the seats of the famous guests.
It remains to be seen whether he was enough to save Ten Hag after United finished eighth in the Premier League – their worst position since 1990 – and were knocked out in the Champions League group stage.
United lost 14 times in the league – including humiliating defeats at the hands of Crystal Palace and Bournemouth – finishing with a negative goal difference and 31 points behind champions City.
But Ten Hag still believes United is heading on the right path under his guidance.
At a tense press conference after the match, the former Ajax boss explained he was not afraid of being sacked.
“When I started here, I said I was here to win, and I wanted to build a team. I did both,” he said.
“If they don’t want me, I’ll go anywhere and do what I’ve done my whole career, winning games and trophies.”
Asked if he had any assurance of his job being safe since reports of his potential dismissal, Ten Hag said: “That’s what they used to tell me (before now).
“Every time it’s the same question. They don’t need to tell me every week.
“I don’t think about this. I’m in a project and we’re exactly where we want to be. We’re building a team for the future.”
United have been linked with former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, former Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, England manager Gareth Southgate and Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna.