Man U’s Ten Hag hits out his critics
MANCHESTER, England, April 23, (AP): After limping into the FA Cup final, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag came out fighting on Tuesday.
His team was roundly criticized for blowing a 3-0 lead against second-tier Coventry on Sunday and needing a penalty shootout to advance to the final.
Ten Hag, himself, admitted United had been fortunate when Coventry saw an extra-time winner ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside. But with uncertainty surrounding his future following a disappointing season, he hit out at his critics after leading United to back-to-back FA Cup finals.
“The reaction from you (the media) was embarrassing,” he told a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League game against Sheffield
United. “Top football is about results and we made it to the final and deserved it.
“Twice
(two FA Cup finals) in two years - it is magnificent.
For me as manager, four cup finals in four years. The comments are a disgrace.”
United will play Manchester City in a repeat of last year’s final on May 25.
Ten Hag won the Dutch Cup with Ajax in 2019 and 2021, and was runner up in 2022. He also won three Dutch league titles as Ajax coach. Under Ten Hag, Ajax reached the semifinals of the Champions League in 2019.
It was that record that convinced United he was the right candidate to turn the club’s fortunes around after years of decline since former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Ten Hag won the English League Cup in his first season with United last year and qualified for the Champions League. But he has struggled to build on that early success this term.
SOCCER
His team is currently in seventh place in the standings and looks set to miss out on the Champions League, trailing fourth-place Aston Villa by 16 points with two games in hand.
New co-owner Jim Ratcliffe is overseeing sweeping changes at the club and speculation is rife about Ten Hag’s position.
A new technical director, Jason Wilcox, was hired last week as Ratcliffe aims to transform United’s soccer operations. Former Manchester City executive Omar Berrada has been hired as CEO and United is also targeting Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth.
The FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United will kick off at the traditional time of 3 p.m. (1400 GMT) on May 25, the Football Association said Tuesday.
In a repeat of last year’s final, holder City will play rival United at Wembley Stadium.
The FA said the kickoff time had been agreed with both clubs, the local authority, safety advisory group and broadcasters.
It is the second straight year that the final will start at 3 p.m. In recent years it has had an early evening time slot.
City beat Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday to secure its place in the final, while United needed penalties to overcome second-tier Coventry on Sunday after blowing a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 through extra time.
As well as the Cup, the winner will receive around $2.5 million.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has extended his contract until 2027, the club said Tuesday.
Emery has overseen an impressive turnaround at the Premier League club, which was in danger of being relegated when he took charge last season.
Under the Spanish coach, Villa is now fourth in England’s top flight and in contention for Champions League qualification. Emery has also led his team into the semifinals of the Europa Conference League.
In a summer when Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are all looking to appoint a new coach, Emery has signed an extension to the deal he agreed in October 2022.
“We are enjoying our way together with Villa fans, the club owners, management and this great group of players that we are proud of,” Emery said. “Me and the football management… we share the vision of the owners.”