Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Premier League, Arsenal, FA Cup, Steve McClaren, Michael Owen
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Premier League, Arsenal, FA Cup, Steve McClaren, Michael Owen
Manchester United have made a decision over whether Erik ten Hag will be sacked if they lose to Arsenal this weekend.
United suffered yet another humiliating result on Monday night, losing 4-0 at Crystal Palace.
Ten Hag's side have now suffered 13 defeats in the Premier League this season, their most in a league campaign since 1989/90.
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They are now eighth in the table and at real risk of failing to qualify for Europe, something which hasn't happened since the disastrous 2013/14 season when they came seventh – their lowest league finish in the Premier League era.
The defeat to Palace has massively increased the pressure on Ten Hag amid speculation he could be sacked.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has refused to publicly back Ten Hag and a number of other managers have been touted as potential replacements for the Dutchman, including Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel and England boss Gareth Southgate.
Things don't get any easier for Ten Hag, with United due to host Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday in a must-win match for both teams.
They will then face Newcastle and Brighton in the Premier League before taking on rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25.
The Telegraph claim United have no plans to sack Ten Hag before the Wembley final, regardless of what happens in their upcoming Premier League games.
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"Old Trafford insiders insist that a final decision on Ten Hag's future will not be taken until the end of the season, after the FA Cup final, even though a number of players believe his fate is effectively sealed," read the report.
Speaking on Premier League productions, former United striker Michael Owen called for the club to sack Ten Hag and replace him with assistant coach Steve McClaren.
"At some point you've got to make a decision, they're going to get absolutely hammered by Manchester City [in the FA Cup final], they're going to get annihilated, in fact, Arsenal will smash them to bits at Old Trafford, Newcastle will probably beat them and I wouldn't even fancy them going to Brighton either," said Owen.
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"They might not get anything out of the rest of the season, playing like that.
"I just wonder there’s just so much at stake, even if it's only for four games, I wonder whether the board might just have to try to do something here and now and be quite radical about it.
"He cannot, simply cannot, manage this team next season. He's not good enough. I've thought it for ages, and he's just not good enough to manage Manchester United."
On the influence of McClaren, Owen added: "There is no way his fingerprints are anywhere near that team. He is a brilliant coach and that team is not being coached at all."