In the week preceding the FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag has been the subject of intense speculation regarding his future as Manchester United’s manager.
Wayne Rooney speaking to BBC Sport. (Image: BBC/X)
Wayne Rooney, a Manchester United legend, thinks Erik ten Hag’s situation needs to be settled right away.
Throughout the season, the Dutchman has come under fire for leading the team to its worst Premier League season in thirty years. Ten Hag had the opportunity to cap off the season with an FA Cup victory on Saturday, despite United’s elimination from the Champions League in the group stage and their inability to finish in the European spots in the Premier League.
However, rumors about his future at Old Trafford overshadowed the build-up to the Wembley showpiece. Although Mauricio Pochettino was tipped to succeed Ten Hag, the club is reportedly interested in Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, according to a report this week from the MEN.
After the Tractor Boys placed second in the Championship, McKenna—a former United academy and first-team coach—led them back into England’s top division for the first time in 22 years. Ipswich earned back-to-back promotions from League One and the second tier under his impressive rise, allowing them to rejoin the Premier League.
Ten Hag is reportedly going to be fired after the FA Cup final, but United has declined to comment on the reports. Shearer blasted United, while Rooney compared the circumstances to the one that led to Louis van Gaal’s dismissal.
“There was noises about Louis before the final, you see it but as a player you focus on the game,” Rooney said. “It’s not right, in my opinion, to let this drag on, so the club needs to decide quickly whether Erik ten Hag is staying or leaving.
“It’s not surprising if it does happen—new owners, new ideas, bringing in new people to run it the way they see fit,” Shearer continued. The silence is deafening because, from a human perspective, it is so disrespectful to Erik ten Hag.
“If they wanted to back him, they could’ve backed him one month ago, two months ago saying ‘no he is our man, we’re sticking with him for next season’ but there’s been nothing which tells a story.”
Roy Keane expressed worry about the potential effects of the negativity on the team. It’s not that good, he said. There’s a good reason for the noise and negativity surrounding that, especially given how United has been playing, especially in the last few months. Rumors regarding the manager also likely don’t help the dressing room.
“They have not performed well enough in Europe, even with their league form. They had an extremely bad league finish. There’s a good reason for that, but they have to push that to the side of negativity if you have a halfway decent dressing room with some halfway decent characters. You are playing against your rivals in the cup final that is in front of you.”
