MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Erik ten Hag is convinced he will be the Manchester United manager next season after holding talks with the club hierarchy ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final.
The Dutchman has overseen United’s worst season in 34 years and its lowest finish in the English Premier League era, eighth.
It was reported on Friday that he would lose his job even if he wins the Cup against league champion Manchester City at Wembley.
Ten Hag said he had already met new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe to review the season and did not need assurances about his future.
“It is not necessary, we will go for next season,” he said, and added he will go on vacation on Sunday.
Several names have already been mentioned as potential successors to Ten Hag if he is fired, including Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank and England manager Gareth Southgate.
British billionaire Ratcliffe bought a 27.7% stake in United in February and immediately challenged Ten Hag to secure qualification for the Champions League, which he failed to achieve.
Former United managers David Moyes and Louis van Gaal were fired after missing out on the Champions League, while Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also lost their jobs in seasons when it became clear they were unlikely to secure a place among Europe’s elite.
The best Ten Hag can hope for is the Europa League if United win the FA Cup.
Ahead of the final, City manager Pep Guardiola sympathized with Ten Hag, who has had to cope with slew of injuries. United will be without defenders Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw for the final.
But Guardiola accepts the pressure will be on his counterpart, if he cannot deliver a trophy.
“So, in big clubs like United and City, when you don’t win you are always in trouble. It is not a secret,” he said. “We have done what we have done, but I would be in trouble if we didn’t win.”
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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