FA Cup final: Erik ten Hag faces judgment day

Coach Erik ten Hag will have to make changes for the Red Devils in the FA Cup final, both to keep a glimmer of hope of retaining his coaching seat and to prevent Man City from further dominating.

The Wembley Stadium will host another FA Cup final before gearing up for the highly anticipated Champions League final. Last year, Manchester City and Manchester United also faced off here, with City’s 2-1 victory over MU helping them lift the FA Cup trophy. It was one of the three trophies that the Manchester blue side secured last season alongside the Champions League and the Premier League titles.

Heading into the FA Cup final tomorrow, May 25th, Manchester City, as the dominant force in England, will undoubtedly be heavily favored. Pep Guardiola’s team has clinched their 4th consecutive Premier League title and their 6th in the past 7 years. Never before in English history has a team achieved such a feat as Man City.

In contrast, Manchester United is experiencing one of its worst seasons in history. They finished 8th, trailing behind Chelsea for most of the season, despite the London club being the one chasing after Man Utd. This is United’s lowest position since 1990, worsened by Erik ten Hag and his team’s failure to advance from the Champions League group stage despite having what was considered an easy group.

Although they won the League Cup, what Ten Hag is achieving at Old Trafford is not convincing enough for the leadership. A warning bell has sounded, and Ten Hag’s seat has been severely shaken after the conclusion of the Premier League. He blamed MU’s current injury crisis, but the inconsistent and somewhat monotonous play style is a question mark in the Old Trafford dressing room.

See more: Rio Ferdinand predicts the outcome of the FA Cup final

The Dutch coach is believed to have caused rifts within his team after clashes with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, leading to a series of humiliating defeats against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Fulham, Copenhagen, and Galatasaray, among others. MU also only made it to the FA Cup final after squandering a 3-0 lead and being pegged back to 3-3, surviving through a penalty shootout in the semi-final, highlighting the clear flaws in Ten Hag’s inconsistent lineup.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana (MU) shared his thoughts ahead of the match: “This has been a tough season for us. For me, starting at Old Trafford was very tough and my teammates have stood by me, so I’m very grateful. We will give our all at Wembley. We will fight to the end.”

If they win against Manchester City, Ten Hag’s team will secure a spot in the Europa League next season; otherwise, it will be another European absence for MU after their dismal performance in the 2014/2015 season. The challenge is even greater for Erik ten Hag as he could be sacked at any moment, although he stated, “I came to Old Trafford to win trophies.”

The FA Cup final 2024 between Man Utd and Man City will take place tomorrow, May 25th. Stay tuned for the exciting match.