Ten Hag silent on United future as he targets Cup glory

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes his team can salvage what has been a woeful season with victory over high-flying neighbours Manchester City in the FA Cup final, but it’s a game steeped in speculation that it could be the beleaguered manager’s last with the club.

“It’s all about trophies,” ten Hag told reporters on Thursday. “We have a huge opportunity to win a trophy.

“In the last 10 years there have not been so many trophies at the club but we have the opportunity to win two in two years,” he added, referring to the chance of them adding to last season’s League Cup victory.

But the Dutchman declined to answer when he was asked if Saturday could be his final game in charge for United.

“I have nothing to say, I just focus on the job I have to do and that is win the game on Saturday and then we are in the project and keep going in the project,” he said.

“I came here to win trophies. Saturday I have the opportunity to achieve this and we earned this opportunity as a team.

“After every season you review it and see where you are in the project and what things may need to change.”

United have hoisted the FA Cup 12 times, but have just one victory in their last five final appearances, a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in extra time in 2016. They lost to City 2-1 in last year’s final at Wembley.

Ten Hag suggested his side had a tendency to save their best for top opposition, pointing out their thrilling 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals in March.

“The FA Cup final, it’s a big event and we are there. Even in a season that is not in our way, we are there,” the Dutch manager said.

“It won’t be easy but we must go for it. We have to believe it. We know often against good opposition we play our best football and that must be the same on Saturday.”

United were beaten by City in both their Premier League games this season, a 3-0 loss at Old Trafford and 3-1 defeat at the Etihad.

“I think we were very competitive until a VAR decision at Old Trafford. A tough decision, I thought,” ten Hag said.

“At the Etihad, we were 70 minutes very good in the game, and we didn’t have the bench. That’s a big difference. On Saturday, we will have a bench, we will have a much stronger side.”

Defender Harry Maguire, who suffered a muscle injury earlier this month, won’t feature on Saturday as he “didn’t heal as expected”, ten Hag said.

The manager added that Marcus Rashford was determined to get back to his best form after he struggled this season.

Rashford was left out of Gareth Southgate’s provisional England squad announced earlier this week for the European Championship in Germany.

“That is your career, ups and downs,” ten Hag said. “A down can give you fuel and that’s what I see in training. He is highly motivated. Speak with your feet, highly intelligent, he has had a big career, I’m sure he will get over this and get more goals.”