Inside 'painful' Erik ten Hag press conference as Manchester United future remains in doubt despite FA Cup win

05/26/2024 01:00 PM

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag didn’t have it easy, despite beating rivals Man City in the FA Cup final.

And esteemed journalist Henry Winter has told talkSPORT about the ‘painful’ atmosphere inside their press conference after cup glory.

United beat Manchester City 2-1 on Saturday to win their second trophy under Ten Hag, who arrived at the game amid reports that it would be his last in charge.

Responding to the speculation in his post-match press conference, he defiantly said: “If they don’t want me anymore, then I go anywhere else to win trophies because that is what I did my whole career.”

However Winter, who was in attendance, revealed what he believes is a telling sign that Ten Hag could be set to leave United this summer.

Speaking on Sunday Edition with Shaun Custis, he said: “What was most telling, and it’s interesting talking to some of Ten Hag’s supporters in the Dutch media who were there, I say supporters, journalists who know Ten Hag well, they all said the same thing.

“That the body language of Manchester United’s press officer, director of communications, Andrew Ward, who’s an individual we both know well, who cares passionately about Manchester United, who takes the defeats to heart, who likes Ten Hag.

“His body language was just someone who was just… he obviously wasn’t enjoying it, he wasn’t enjoying the sort of scrutiny and the intense questions about the guy on his left, Ten Hag’s career.

“I was just looking at Andrew, I thought, ‘This must be really painful for him because he knows how painful this must be for Ten Hag.’

“Which for me, just looking at it from the outside, just shows that the clock is ticking loudly on Ten Hag’s time.”

Ten Hag arrived at United from Ajax in 2022 and helped deliver the Carabao Cup and third-place Premier League finish in his first year.

However, fluctuant form and results this season have raised questions over his future for much of the overall underwhelming campaign.

Winning the FA Cup has come as a huge boost to United though as even though they finished eighth in the league, they will play in the Europa League.

However, Ten Hag may not be in the Old Trafford dugout next season amid reports that the club will dismiss him.

Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter are among the potential contenders to replace him should a change be made ahead of next season.