Erik ten Hag faces an uncertain future at Man Utd (Picture: Getty)
Rio Ferdinand believes Erik ten Hag will be sacked by Manchester United even if he guides them to an unlikely FA Cup triumph at the end of the month.
United brought their Premier League campaign to a close with a 2-0 away victory against Brighton but pressure remains on Ten Hag after a tough campaign.
Having lost 19 games in all competitions, the Red Devils finished eighth and are set to miss out on European football for the first time since 2015 unless they beat rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final next weekend.
Ten Hag is set to have his position reviewed by INEOS at the end of the cup final but Ferdinand is not convinced that the Dutchman will be in the dugout come next season.
‘The more and more I think about it, win or lose, I don’t think Ten Hag will be there come next season,’ the former United defender said, speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel.
‘I’m not saying that’s what I want, I’m just saying what I believe is going to happen, and I believe that the club are going to look elsewhere I think.
‘I don’t think [winning the FA Cup] changes anything in the eyes of INEOS. I’ve not spoken to anyone there, this is just an assumption, this is what I think.’
Man Utd still have an FA Cup final against Man City next weekend (Picture: Getty)
United have been hampered by a host of injuries throughout the season, but Ferdinand cited Ten Hag’s inability to establish a clear tactical identity as a key failing of his tenure so far.
‘Put injuries aside, the performances of the team have been so bad. Most teams have had injuries, maybe not to the same extent as Man United,’ he added.
‘I keep saying this, I sound like a broken record: performance level can drop but your style of football should be there to identify. It’s not. I don’t know what we are. I don’t know who we are. Who are we as a team? What are we?
Thomas Tuchel could replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)
‘We rely [on Bruno Fernandes]. And that would be an alarm bell for me. The moment Bruno came out of the team, the fall-off of that team was a joke. The worst performances I’ve seen in many, many years against Crystal Palace.
Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate are the favourites to replace Ten Hag if he is sacked, but Ferdinand insisted Sir Jim Ratcliffe must prioritise a manager with tactical nous for their next appointment.
‘If I was Man United now, and I was INEOS, or I was advising them now, I would go and get a coach. I want the best coach around,’ he ended.
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‘Someone who speaks the language, yes. Someone who can communicate with the players. But someone who can implement a playing style and really coach the hell out of young players, experienced players.
‘Gel players together, create a cohesive unit that we can all look at. Create a team now, a good team.’
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