Premier League top goalscorer Alan Shearer has insisted that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his leadership team have ‘already made a decision’ on Erik ten Hag’s future, suggesting two big reasons behind why the Dutchman ‘will be sacked’.
This was immediately after the Red Devils’ shambolic victory in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon, after the Dutchman’s side squandered a three-goal lead against their Championship opponents and almost lost the match, only to be saved by a penalties shootout at the end of extra time.
Despite United ultimately scraping through on penalties, the underwhelming performance by Ten Hag’s motley crew raised further questions over his future at the club. United have continued to endure a lame season under the 54-year-old manager with issues arising on and off the pitch. Having largely failed so far to surpass their achievements of finishing third in the league last season and winning the Carabao Cup, they look set to miss out on qualifying for the Champions League having crashed out of the competition earlier this season.
Shearer addressed the issue on the Rest Is Football podcast, giving an honest verdict on Ten Hag’s future, insisting that winning the FA Cup would not be enough for him to keep his job.
“I think the future of the Manchester United manager is already determined. Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone,” the former Newcastle striker said to Gary Lineker and Micah Richards.
“I don’t think it matters whether they win the FA Cup for his future. That may be sad, that may be wrong but I just get the feeling that winning the FA Cup is not going to be enough for him.
“When you look at the players, when you look at the attitude, where they are in the in the league and all those things: Where they want to be, where they want to go, in a quick time I think he’s already gone.”
Lineker then recalled when former United manager Louis van Gaal was sacked immediately after the 2016 FA Cup final despite having led his side to the title with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
“He did,” Shearer agreed.
“He got the message in the lift after the game – the big argument whether it was right or wrong.
“I don’t know it, it’s just a guess but I look at the players’ attitudes, the players’ ability and I just get the feeling.
“I think the decision is already made,” he added.
“You know how it works: new owner, new director of football, new director of strategy, new this, new that, new whatever. It just tells you: new manager incoming.”