Sir Jim Ratcliffe has no plans to fire Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager until the end of the season, despite the pressure after Sunday’s FA Cup triumph against Coventry.
United led 3-0 until Mark Robins’ team scored three times in 29 minutes to force extra time. In the extra 30 minutes, Ellis Simms struck the crossbar and Victor Torp scored the winner, but VAR judged him offside. United won 4-2 on penalties.
After letting a three-goal lead slip, United continued their worrying trend of losing matches.
After leading Liverpool 2-1 in the Premier League two weeks ago, they conceded an 84th-minute penalty that Mohamed Salah converted to draw level, and then lost 4-3 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after being 3-2 ahead going into stoppage time.
Kristoffer Ajer’s late goal cancelled Mason Mount’s 96th-minute goal in a 1-1 draw at Brentford.
United have struggled all season, and after their near-humiliation on Sunday, Ten Hag may leave Old Trafford immediately.
But Ratcliffe, who now controls United’s football policy, has decided to continue with the manager after the Dutchman led the team to a second FA Cup final in his second season.
United are seventh in the Premier League, 16 points behind Aston Villa in fourth with only six fixtures remaining.
The Old Trafford hierarchy accepts Ten Hag’s high number of injuries and illnesses as a factor in United’s performance this campaign, which could end with a trophy but almost certainly not with Champions League qualification.
Ten Hag may leave in the summer, when he will have 12 months left on his contract after joining from Ajax over two years ago.
While Bruno Fernandes denies that the manager’s future is hurting the players, the captain says they must focus on the rest of the season.
“That doesn’t affect anyone because we have to focus on everything we have this season,” he said. Our major goal is to finish as high as possible in the league to get into European spots, and then we have an FA Cup final.
“No one should worry because it’s not our job to worry about outside, inside, or whatever things. We have owners, directors, and players, so it’s about playing well and giving our all.”
Fernandes confessed the Coventry scare made him doubt United’s win. “Obviously, it is a little bit but we have to be happy,” he remarked.
We’ve reached the FA Cup final two years in a row, and we know how hard it is. Obviously, we needed a different route.
“For 70 minutes, we were so good, we controlled the game, and then well done from them, they believed, they gave everything they could to get back in the game, and they did.”
Fernandes was questioned why United regularly concede quickly and in extra time.
“In some moments you can probably relax yourself for a little bit not make the pressure as strong as you should,” the Portuguese remarked. In the end, they scored some lucky goals, but we must give them credit.”
After speaking to the club, technical director and former United midfielder Darren Fletcher used his limited Cup final appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson as encouragement.
“We had Fletch before the game,” Fernandes added. “Fletch has been part of one of Man United’s best teams in the past years and has been here three times for the FA Cup. He played 12 years for the club and was in the club’s most successful part in the last years.”
