Manchester United 'make Erik ten Tag sack decision ahead of FA Cup final'

By Carter White | 07 May 2024

Man Utd 'make Erik ten Tag sack decision ahead of FA Cup final'

Manchester United are reportedly willing to stick with Erik ten Hag ahead of the club's FA Cup final meeting with local rivals Manchester City on May 25.

Manchester United have reportedly decided against sacking manager Erik ten Hag ahead of this month's FA Cup final versus Manchester City.

The Dutchman is under increased pressure in the managerial hotseat following Monday night's hammering 4-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace.

Man United were demolished at Selhurst Park by Oliver Glasner's men, with Michael Olise bagging a brace, whilst Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell also got onto the scoresheet.

For the first time in the club's history, the Red Devils have now been defeated by Crystal Palace twice in a single season, highlighting the seriousness of their drop in form.

The visitors believe that they had a legal goal ruled out in the first half, with Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson judged to have been fouled in the lead up.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag on March 3, 2024 © Reuters

Man United 'will not sack Ten Hag this month'

According to The Telegraph, Man United have made a critical decision over the future of Ten Hag following Monday's sobering defeat in the capital.

The report claims that the Red Devils will not part ways with the Dutchman before their FA Cup final meeting with local rivals Man City on May 25.

It is understood that the United hierarchy will give Ten Hag the chance to guide the club to its first piece of silverware this season against Pep Guardiola's troops.

This is despite calls from a host of pundits and former Man United players for the club to move in a different direction ahead of the 2024-25 term.

Ten Hag's troops booked their spot in the showpiece Wembley match with a penalty-shootout victory over Championship side Coventry City in the semi-finals.

Manchester United's Christian Eriksen and teammates look dejected after Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta scores their second goal on May 6, 2024 © Reuters

Ten Hag's mitigating factors?

Monday's defeat at Crystal Palace was a new low for Man United this season, although there are mitigating factors as to why such a heavy defeat was suffered.

An injury crisis has taken grip of Ten Hag's squad, forcing the former Ajax boss to field a centre-back pairing of Casemiro and Jonny Evans, combining to an age of 68.

For the first time in his professional career, Red Devils talisman Bruno Fernandes missed a match due to injury, meaning that Mason Mount started in the advanced-midfield role.

Facing a well-structured Palace side, Ten Hag was forced to fill his bench with a number of academy players, including 18-year-old Ethan Wheatley, who came on in the final 10 minutes.