A week after the FA Cup final saw Manchester United lift the FA Cup, fans are still disgusted over how Erik ten Hag was treated during an interview.
As Manchester United celebrated lifting a 13th FA Cup trophy, Erik ten Hag was subjected to a harsh interview by the BBC while they covered the game.
Ten Hag was grilled by Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, while the Dutch manager celebrated winning a second trophy in two years as the boss at Old Trafford.
“Do you think you’ve been unfairly treated by pundits, and even us?”, Lineker asked Ten Hag. To which the manager replied, “Definitely.”
After this Shearer continued the questioning which made for an awkward and tense interview and led to much critique for both pundits from fans.
What are Manchester United fans saying about Gary Lineker’s excuse
On Saturday, Lineker posted an article he’d written for The Guardian which excused his awful interview as him ‘asking the awkward questions’.
In response to this, fans from United and also fans of other clubs were all saying the same thing about Lineker, subjected around the fact the treatment seems to be different for Ten Hag.
One fan wrote: “Nobody had an issue with the questions. The issue is that you don’t treat every manager like that. He’d just won a trophy and got a grilling. You’ve never grilled Pep about 115 charges, certainly not right after winning the league I think you know that’s what annoyed fans”.
An Arsenal fan even chimed in, writing: “Did you ask Pep any awkward questions about the 115 charges? And the fact his legacy will likely have no credibility?”
Another United fan had this view: “Where are the awkward questions to other managers Gary re ownership / performances / EPL charges… rule for one and rule for the rest because United help your ratings.”
Pep Guardiola was the subject of a further fans questioning: “Sure. So will you be asking Pep about Man City’s 115 charges? It does fall in the awkward question category if you are not aware.”
“Gary, respectfully, the outrage isn’t about the questions themselves, but the timing. He just won a major trophy. Celebrate that, ask about his tactical approach, discuss the relief after the challenging season we’ve had, and leave it at that”, another added.
A final asked: “It’s not the questions, it’s the consistency as much as anything. Ask Pep Guardiola about the 115 charges? Ask Jurgen Klopp about how he treats the media? Nope, but you can go after Erik ten Hag just after he’s won the FA Cup about whether he’ll have a job.”
The fans are just right and Erik ten Hag deserved better
Watching the interview live on the BBC was shocking as the awkwardness was something rarely seen with Lineker and Shearer among the most professional in the business.
But it’s just right they’ve been called out over it, as it was completely unfair to question the manager over his future and the season, which he’d just masterminded a 2-1 win over Manchester City and lifted a trophy.
Nobody is under any illusions about the campaign United had, prior to the FA Cup final it was awful, and even with that triumph, the season still wasn’t good enough.
Ten Hag himself knows this as he thanked the fans on MUTV for their support even though the results have been bad, singling out the 4-0 thrashing by Crystal Palace.
Hopefully, Ten Hag gets the apology he deserves or Lineker and Shearer keep this energy with other managers going forward.