Lee Sharpe believes that Manchester United have likely already made a decision on the future of Erik ten Hag – and winning the FA Cup won’t “sway them one way or another”.
The Red Devils completed an upset on Saturday by defeating Manchester City at Wembley, lifting the trophy for a 13th time in their history following a 2-1 victory.
Ten Hag has now picked up two pieces of silverware in his two years in charge at Old Trafford after winning the League Cup in 2023, but the Dutchman is widely expected to be sacked regardless.
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Reports suggest that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team will conduct a season review that includes analysing the manager’s performance before making a decision.
Speaking exclusively to The Football Faithful with thanks to William Hill, Sharpe reckons they already have all the information they need to determine whether or not Ten Hag will keep his job.
“I think there’s a decision has probably already been made behind the scenes by INEOS,” the former Man United and Leeds winger said. “I don’t think the FA Cup will sway them one way or another.
“They’ve come in early enough to see how the team has performed and what the manager has been doing, they’ve been to the training ground, seen all the players. They’re probably the sort of guys that already have this boxed off and ready to go one way or another.
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“Whether they support Ten Hag and keep him, I’m sure they’ve got a lost of players they’re going to go after. If not, they’ll have a new manager in pretty quick and have a list of players for him.
“I don’t think it’ll make a lot of difference to whether he keeps his job or not.”
Sharpe, who won the FA Cup twice as a Man United player, believes that injuries have played a major part in the team’s poor form this past season. That may be enough of a mitigating factor to give Ten hag another year in the job.
“It’s not been a great season, it’s been a standout season for exaggerating the bad bits, in that certain players are not performing as they should, we’re carrying players who are more injury prone than what you need, and then you have questions of the manager,” he said.
“How the manager has dealt with it, the tactics he’s played in certain games, the personnel he’s picked in certain positions. I know a lot of it is forced due to the injuries, but sometimes I think he gets his tactics wrong for the players that are on the pitch.
“I think it has been a poor season, but maybe with the injuries and the way things have gone, he’ll get a second chance.”
Lee Sharpe made 243 appearances for Man United over an eight year spell at the club, winning the Premier League title three times.
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