Win or bust for Ten Hag as he clings to United job

COVENTRY v MANCHESTER UNITED (Sunday, 3.30pm, ITV)

DEFEAT by Coventry would hammer a nail into the coffin of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United career.

Ten Hag hoped the epic 4-3 FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool a month ago would be the turning point for his United regime.

Amad Diallo’s 121st-minute winner triggered euphoric scenes at Old Trafford, but the semi-final against Championship side Coventry has become a dangerous banana skin that could send Ten Hag’s United future tumbling.

The manager has overseen two losses and two draws since, ending United’s hopes of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League.

United threw away winning opportunities against Brentford, Chelsea and Liverpool before scraping a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth last Saturday.

The collapse comes as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his executives conduct a review to deliver “best in class” in all parts of his organisation.

Football director John Murtough has already left, and Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth is set to take charge of transfers. A defeat by Coventry, who sensationally won at Wolves with two goals in added time to reach this point, could spell the end of Ten Hag (right).

In the opposite dugout is a United hero in Coventry boss Mark Robins, famous for saving Sir Alex Ferguson’s job with his goal against Nottingham Forest in 1990, which led to Ferguson’s first piece of silverware at Old Trafford.

“I don’t think about that [playing for United in the past] and it is not about me for sure,” Robins said. “It has been an incredible team effort to go on this journey. People say United are this, that, or concede a lot of shots, but they have top international players.

“They are clearly favourites to win this game. We know what this game will be; the occasion is huge, but there will be no fear.” It is down to Ten Hag to write his own history and avoid being part of Ratcliffe’s cull.