'Not convinced' – Erik ten Hag may have won the FA Cup but the Manchester United boss still has to be replaced

05/28/2024 03:42 PM

Jermaine Jenas believes Manchester United have to part ways with Erik ten Hag – despite him masterminding the club’s FA Cup triumph.

The Dutchman won his second trophy with the Red Devils last Saturday when they beat rivals Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley.

United’s win came amid reports that it could be Ten Hag’s last match in charge following a campaign that saw them finish eighth in the Premier League.

And despite winning silverware for the second season running at Old Trafford, former Tottenham midfielder Jenas believes United should be eyeing a replacement.

Speaking to Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent on talkSPORT Drive, he said: “Well, the fans and everybody’s mindsets are, ‘Are Manchester United into a little bit of pickle having put in one of their best performances of the year to get that win?’

“I still think that they should look elsewhere personally, because I think you base a manager’s performance over the longevity of a season.

“When I look at Manchester United right now… bearing in mind that performance was a very specific and bespoke-designed performance for one game.

“So it was very much like, ‘Manchester City are going to have a lot of the ball, we can sit in and play counter-attacking football,’ Manchester United fans are not going to accept that week in, week out at Old Trafford.

“They want to be on the ball, they want to be dominating games, they want to be playing attacking, exciting football, right?

“So, I have not seen personally… what’s he been there [for], two years? I don’t think I’ve seen many performances that I can sit here and go, ‘That’s an Erik ten Hag performance.’ I still to this day don’t know what he does!”

Goldstein then asked if it takes time for players to get used to a manager and tactics, leading Jenas to remark: “I don’t think it takes two years.

“I think six months is enough time to kind of look at a team and go, ‘OK, you might not be winning games, but I totally understand the direction that this team is now moving in, and even during that period of time I’m prepared to accept the losses because you’re trying this and you’re trying that.’

“I think watching Erik ten Hag, and we have to factor in that also, from an injury perspective he’s had a bit of a nightmare, granted.

“Luke Shaw, [Tyrell] Malacia, he’s had no left side for god knows how long.I’m just not convinced myself.

“I get why Manchester United fans should feel hugely appreciative of the trophies that he has delivered over the last couple of years because, being obviously at Spurs, you realise those things don’t happen very often and fans would love one of the two.

“But if I’m looking like two, three, five years ahead for Manchester United fans, I just don’t think he’s the man that is going to get them back into that dominant place they need to be.”

United have been linked with former coach Kieran McKenna amid Ten Hag’s uncertain future, but he looks set to stay at Ipswich Town.

Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Gareth Southgate are among the contenders for the hot seat should a change be made.