Manchester United to sack Erik ten Hag - regardless of FA Cup success: report

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is on the brink of more FA Cup glory - but it won't save him from the axe

Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, looks on after the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final between Manchester United and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford on March 17, 2024 in Manchester, England.
(Image credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Manchester United will not save Erik ten Hag from the sack – even with a potential FA Cup win a real possibility on the horizon.

The Red Devils defeated bitter rivals Liverpool 4-3 in a nail-biting quarter-final in the competition at the weekend, with Ten Hag asked whether the match could be a turning point. Manchester United have endured a tough season but are looking to end on a high and qualify for the Champions League.

With a new owner coming in, in the shape of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, however, lifting the trophy may not save the Dutchman from losing his job at the end of the season.

Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chairman and founder of Ineos Group Holdings Plc, following a Bloomberg Television interview at The Grenadier pub in London, UK, on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. "If you're in the automotive world, you've got a responsibility to try and improve the world's carbon footprint," Ratcliffe said.

Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will still get rid of Ten Hag, according to reports from the Netherlands (Image credit: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Valentijn Driessen, a senior journalist at Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, has told a podcast in the Netherlands (via SoccerNews) that not even silverware will spare Ten Hag this season.

“Of course it remains [the] end,“ Driessen said, suggesting that Ten Hag is in the final weeks of his tenure. “Even if he wins the FA Cup. Louis van Gaal also went out after winning the FA Cup, but of course he had a very easy route.”

United are in sixth, nine points below fourth-placed Aston Villa. They also bombed out of the Champions League in the group stage, finishing fourth in their group.

Erling Haaland scores for Manchester City against Manchester United in March 2024.

This season has been tough on United (Image credit: Getty Images)

With 10 games remaining in the Premier League, United have lost 11 times, while they now face Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley. 

Ten Hag has a win percentage of 60.78 while at Old Trafford. 

More Manchester United stores

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Manchester United and City kept apart in FA Cup semi-final draw

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah sets impressive new mark as Reds quadruple dreams die in FA Cup exit vs Manchester United

Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.

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