Erik ten Hag focused on FA Cup final, not his future

admin admin | 05-24 00:16

Under-fire Erik ten Hag says his sole focus is on winning the FA Cup rather than talk about the potential of it being his final match as Manchester United manager.

The Red Devils are looking to salvage a poor, injury-hit season by beating their neighbours Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.

United bowed out of Europe before Christmas and limped home in eighth place - their lowest ever Premier League finish - as speculation continues over boss Ten Hag's future.

Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel and Kieran McKenna are among the names to be linked with the Old Trafford hotseat as ambitious Ineos consider how to take the club back to the top.

Asked about some people suggesting this weekend's final could be his last match as United manager, Ten Hag chuckled and said: "I have nothing to say.

"I am just focusing on the job I have to do and that is first win the game on Saturday and then we are in the project. Keep going in the project."

Ten Hag added: "I came here to win trophies.

"Saturday I have the next opportunity and we achieved this, earned this opportunity as a team and now we have to go for it.

"In the same time, in the last two years, of course after every season you review it and then we will see where we are in the project and things we have to change.

"We spoke lately about it. Underneath there are very good things - players coming up, players developing, values coming up.

"And, in the same time, we have on Saturday a big opportunity to win the next trophy."

Marcus Rashford is on the comeback trail

United's injury issues have eased in recent weeks, with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane returning along with Marcus Rashford and captain Bruno Fernandes.

Victor Lindelof, Mason Mount and Anthony Martial were pictured in training in the build-up to the final, but Harry Maguire will miss out along with left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

"Harry Maguire is unavailable but the rest, all the players you mentioned (Lindelof, Mount and Martial), are I think all available.

"Tomorrow final training and then we will make final decisions but if I oversee it now it looks good."

Maguire sustained a muscle injury in training earlier this month and was expected to be out for three weeks.

Asked if the defender - who has been named in England's provisional Euro 2024 squad - has suffered a setback, Ten Hag said: "I don't think so, no. It's just he didn't make it, didn't heal as we expected."

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