Alan Shearer has insisted that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his leadership team have ‘already made a decision’ on Erik ten Hag’s future, revealing that there are two big reasons behind why the Man United manager ‘will be sacked’.
It came after the Red Devils’ hollow victory in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon, with the Dutchman’s side squandering a three-goal lead against their Championship opponents during the match.
United ultimately scraped through winning 4-2 on penalties – thanks in part to the antics of goalkeeper Andre Onana – but the result was an all-too-familiar and underwhelming performance from Ten Hag’s side, raising further questions over his future at the club.
Under the 54-year-old manager, United have endured a torrid season, with issues arising both on and off the field. The club has largely failed so far to surpass their achievements of winning the Carabao Cup and finishing third in the Premier League during Ten Hag’s first season in charge. As of right now, they look set to miss out on qualifying for the Champions League having crashed out of the competition earlier this season.
Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer gave an honest verdict on Ten Hag’s future, insisting that winning the FA Cup would not be enough for him to keep his job.
Alan Shearer believes Man United have already made a decision on Erik ten Hag’s future
The BBC pundit claimed the club’s board ‘will sack the Dutchman even if he wins the FA Cup’
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was pictured sitting next to Avram Glazer at Wembley to watch United’s FA Cup semi-final victory against Coventry
‘I think the future of the Manchester United manager is already determined. Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone,’ the former Newcastle striker said to Gary Lineker and Micah Richards.
‘I don’t think it matters whether they win the FA Cup for his future. That may be sad, that may be wrong but I just get the feeling that winning the FA Cup is not going to be enough for him.
‘When you look at the players, when you look at the attitude, where they are in the league and all those things: Where they want to be, where they want to go, in a quick time I think he’s already gone.’
Mail Sport previously reported that Ten Hag has turned a deaf ear to speculation over his Old Trafford future, which has gathered much steam in recent months.
United were also lucky not to lose Sunday’s match in extra time, after Victor Torp’s late strike was ruled out for offside. Replays showed that the Danish midfielder was only marginally offside.
Lineker, meanwhile, then recounted when Louis van Gaal was sacked as Man United boss after the 2016 FA Cup final. It came even after the Dutchman had led his side to clinch the title, after securing a 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace.
‘He did,’ Shearer said on Van Gaal. ‘He got the message in the lift after the game – the big argument whether it was right or wrong.
‘I don’t know it, it’s just a guess but I look at the players’ attitudes, the players’ ability and I just get the feeling.
‘I think the decision is already made,’ he added.
‘You know how it works: new owner, new director of football, new director of strategy, new this, new that, new whatever. It just tells you: new manager incoming.’
United scraped through to the FA Cup final after winning 4-2 on penalties at Wembley
Shearer claimed that the signs of change at United were an ominous indicator that Ten Hag would be sacked
Ten Hag claimed that their nervy win against Coventry was ‘not an embarrassment’
Earlier this season, Shearer had also suggested that the club had ‘too many bad eggs‘ blasting the club’s players for their attitude following their 1-0 defeat against Newcastle.
On Sunday, Antony was criticised by fans for his celebration after Rasmus Hojlund scored the final penalty that sealed victory for his side. The Brazilian appeared to turn towards the Coventry players, while cupping his hands over his ears before running away.
It’s not the first time this season that eyebrows have been raised over the attitudes of some of United’s players. Several incidents away from the playing field have attracted scrutiny from fans, including the furore surrounding Marcus Rashford’s visit to a Belfast nightclub, and Ten Hag’s disagreement with Jadon Sancho that has ultimately led to the exile of the winger.
On the field, the club’s captain Bruno Fernandes has often been slammed for his petulance, but some have changed their tune in recent weeks, arguing that he is one of United’s hardest workers and has been giving everything to help his side win.
After Sunday’s match, Roy Keane tore into Man United in a scathing rant, in which he labelled them a ‘Championship side’ following their dire second-half performance against Coventry.
Meanwhile, the arrival of Ratcliffe and INEOS could also be an ominous sign for Ten Hag. Right now, United are currently going through a huge upheaval of staff, with United announcing John Murtough would be leaving his role as the club’s director of football.
Earlier this season, the club appointed former Man City executive Omar Berrada as the club’s new CEO, and have recently acquired Jason Wilcox from Southampton, who joins as their new technical director.
Dan Ashworth, meanwhile, is also set to be appointed United’s new sporting director in place of Murtough.
The widespread change at United, for Shearer, has raised concerns over whether the club’s new minority co-owners will look to bring in a new manager. And Several big names have been touted to take over from Ten Hag. England boss Gareth Southgate is one person who has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, after his contract with England expires later this year.
Meanwhile, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, Real Madrid icon Zinedine Zidane, and outgoing Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel have all been rumoured to be on United’s shortlist.
Recently, questions have started to pile up over Ten Hag’s coaching methods. Many have raised concerns over United’s tactics with Rio Ferdinand claiming that ‘United’s worst traits have been highlighted under the Dutchman’s reign‘.
It comes as Gary Neville claimed that it would be ‘extreme’ if Man United sacked the Dutchman
Antony was seen turning towards the Coventry players while cupping his hands over his ears before running away from the opposition
Scotty McTominay would give United the lead after 23 minutes, tapping in from close-range
Harry Maguire doubled their lead before half-time before Bruno Fernandes got the third
United have similarly failed to seal a victory in their last four matches in all competitions. In the past two weeks, the Red Devils have drawn 2-2 to both Bournemouth and Liverpool, before which they suffered a last-gasp 4-3 defeat by Chelsea.
Mail Sport’s Chris Wheeler stated United ‘produced another freak show’ on Sunday against Coventry, with United having already had several games descend into madness during the 2023-24 campaign.
But, speaking on the nervy victory, Ten Hag remained positive, insisting that his side’s passage to the FA Cup final was a ‘huge achievement’.
‘We have reached two finals in two years and that is a huge achievement,’ insisted Ten Hag, amid the scrutiny over his position at United. ‘I see the mistakes we make. You can’t avoid them. But it’s not an embarrassment, it’s a huge achievement.
‘We can play at very high levels but in same match we can go to very low levels and it’s not explainable. It’s about game management, responsibility and decision making.
‘We have to do better in these occasions. On several occasions like this we let the result slip away but today we got away with it. I don’t think heads dropped but we had many setbacks and maybe our reaction is human but it’s not acceptable. When you are in control you should win easily.
‘We have to do better in these occasions. On several occasions like this we let the result slip away but today we got away with it. I don’t think heads dropped but we had many setbacks and maybe our reaction is human but it’s not acceptable. When you are in control you should win easily.
While pressure has been mounting on Ten Hag, The Mirror claim that the Man United boss will ‘resign if he does not get the assurances from Ratcliffe and INEOS over their commitment to him.’
United’s inability to keep the ball proved costly, with Ellis Simms firing in from inside the box
Coventry looked as though they had won it in extra time but Victor Torp’s last-gasp goal was ruled offside
After a dismal campaign, pressure is starting to rise on Ten Hag, whose side had not won in their last four games before Sunday’s fixture
Gary Neville says it would be ‘extreme’ if the Dutchman was sacked with a FA Cup triumph
While he remains the United manager for now, Gary Neville has given some sympathy to the Dutch manager, claiming it would not be fair to sack him if his side go on to beat Manchester City in the FA Cup.
The ex-United defender told Sky Sports: ‘My view would be that if he won the FA Cup and he won a trophy last season, to sack a manager who’s won two trophies in his first two seasons at the club I think would be extreme.
‘Winning trophies can never ever be underestimated. If you’ve got a knack for winning trophies and you just get through things I don’t think you can dismiss that.
‘There’s a good chance they (INEOS) would (sack Ten Hag). They’ve wiped everything else out at the top of the club and if he wins a trophy and it’s two trophies on the bounce, that’s tough.’
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