Premier League top goalscorer Alan Shearer has insisted that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his leadership team have ‘already made a decision\u2019 on Erik ten Hag\u2019s future, suggesting two big reasons behind why the Dutchman ‘will be sacked’.<\/p>\n
This was immediately after the Red Devils’ shambolic victory in the FA Cup\u00a0semi-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.<\/p>\n
Despite United ultimately scraping through on penalties, the underwhelming performance by Ten Hag\u2019s motley crew raised further questions over his future at the club. \u00a0United 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the future of the Manchester United manager is already determined. Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone,\u201d the former Newcastle striker said to Gary Lineker and Micah Richards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did,\u201d Shearer agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe got the message in the lift after the game – the big argument whether it was right or wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the decision is already made,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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