Alan Shearer believes Erik ten Hag will be heading out the door at Manchester United at the end of the season.
Manchester United booked their place in the FA Cup final with a penalty shootout win over Coventry City on Sunday.
But the victory raised more doubts over Ten Hag’s future after a stunning second-half collapse.
Indeed, United looked to be cruising to a comfortable 3-0 victory after goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.
Coventry had other ideas though and United avoided what would have gone down as one of the greatest comebacks in FA Cup history.
The Sky Blues forced the game to extra time thanks to goals from Ellis Simms, Callum O’Hare and Haji Wright.
Mark Robins’ side thought they had completed the comeback in the final minute of extra time as Victor Torp found the back of the net. Fortunately for United, the goal was disallowed by the VAR after Wright was judged to be offside in the build-up.
Ten Hag’s men eventually got the job done on penalties and booked their spot in this year’s final against Manchester City at Wembley.
But regardless of United’s fate in the FA Cup, Alan Shearer believes Ten Hag will be moving on this summer.
Shearer on Ten Hag’s future at Man United
Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Shearer reacted to yesterday’s semi-final and explained why he believes Ten Hag’s days at Old Trafford are numbered.
“I think the future of the Manchester United manager is already determined,” the Newcastle United legend said. “Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone. I don’t think it matters if 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, when you look at where they are in the league and all of those things… Where they want to be, where they want to go in a quick time, I think he’s already gone.”
Gary Lineker then asked: “Wasn’t it Louis van Gaal, didn’t he go after winning the FA Cup?”
“He did, yeah,” Shearer added. “He sort of got the message in the lift somewhere after the game. I remember the big argument whether it’s right or wrong.
“I don’t know it, it’s just a guess but I look at the player’s attitudes and ability and I just get the feeling. It’s just a hunch that the decision is already made.”
Ten Hag’s post-match interview
Following a stunning collapse after the 70th minute yesterday, Ten Hag admitted he had ‘mixed feelings’ after United’s semi-final victory.
“It’s mixed feelings. The way we did it isn’t OK,” he said. “We should have managed it better but it’s a huge performance.
“If you analyse the game we controlled 75 minutes but then allowed them to return into the game. We can be happy with the achievement, getting to the final, that’s huge.
“If you see United was, in the last 20 seasons, five times in the FA Cup final and now we are twice there in two years. We need to win that final though. When we [are] 100 per cent in it then we can do it.”
It’s fair to say that Ten Hag’s future remains up in the air after the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.
Their performances of late certainly won’t be strengthening the feeling that the Dutchman is the right man to take them forward.
Much is likely to depend on United’s fate at Wembley in May but Jamie Carragher also believes yesterday’s game may have cost Ten Hag his job.
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