In the heat of the moment at Wembley, Erik ten Hag was asked a lot of questions about his future.
Given Manchester United’s past track record of firing a Dutch manager after winning the FA Cup, it was somewhat understandable he was quizzed on the topic.
Ten Hag responded with dignity, and a bit of fire. Pumped up at the emotion of beating rivals Manchester City, he issued a clear cut warning to his employers.
A two-week review followed, with Erik ten Hag kept waiting. Manchester United have now decided to keep him.
Erik ten Hag issued warning to Ineos
Erik ten Hag has won two trophies in two seasons for Manchester United, delivering a key objective.
He is the first manager in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era to win trophies in successive years.
He spoke after the final, to warn that if he did leave the club, he would simply go and lift silverware elsewhere.
Ten Hag proclaimed: “Two trophies in two years is not bad, three finals in two years is not bad.
“If they don’t want me, then I go somewhere else to win trophies because that is what I do.”
Ten Hag also won silverware consistently at Ajax, who have fallen off disastrously since he left.
Prior to him winning the 2023 Carabao Cup arrival, Manchester United had gone six years without winning a trophy, the previous success coming in 2017.
Ten Hag was absolutely spot on to point out what the club would be giving up, if they let him walk out the door.
Despite what had shaped up as a nightmare season, he had kept the team fighting and playing for him, stepping up against all the adversity they faced, and still won a trophy.
Ten Hag called for stability
Erik ten Hag made clear that stability is important for Manchester United, and that there is a lot more to come.
After winning the FA Cup this past season, did United have the appetite to rip it all up and start again?And who were the standout, credible alternatives?
Ten Hag made clear that he feels he has laid the foundation for the club to build on, and wanted to continue.
He said: “I am in a project and we are exactly where we want to be, we are constructing a team for the future.
“When I took over we were in a mess. The team is developing, the team is winning and the team plays to an identity but you need the players to be available and a strong squad especially when you play in England and Europe.
“There is a lot of work to do but we have value in the squad, high potential, the team is progressing and we are winning trophies.”
Ineos have listened, and given Ten Hag more time to continue his project. Will it be successful? His record of winning silverware over the past two seasons suggests he has a chance.