Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United, Football, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Premier League, FA Cup
Ryan Smart
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United, Football, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Premier League, FA Cup
Journalist Henry Winter says he spotted something that was 'most telling' about how Manchester United have reacted to speculation over Erik ten Hag's future.
United ended a difficult season on a high note on Saturday, winning the FA Cup by beating Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley.
Ten Hag's tactical plan worked to perfection, and goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo - both United academy graduates - underlined why the Dutchman has shown so much faith towards youth development at Old Trafford.
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The build-up to the final was overshadowed by a report from The Guardian which claimed that United had already decided to part company with Ten Hag after the final.
But United say they are yet to make a decision on their manager's future - despite reports that they opened talks with representatives of Ipswich boss and former United coach Kieran McKenna last week.
The Athletic have since reported that minority co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS will this week conduct a review of the season, during which Ten Hag's future at Old Trafford will be decided.
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Speaking on talkSPORT, meanwhile, Winter explained how the mass speculation over Ten Hag's position has appeared to affect those within the club.
He said: "What was most telling, and it's interesting talking to some of Ten Hag's supporters in the Dutch media who were there. I say supporters, journalists who know Ten Hag well. They all said the same thing.
"That the body language of Manchester United's press officer and director of communications, Andrew Ward, who's an individual we both know well, who cares passionately about Manchester United, who takes the defeats to heart, who likes Ten Hag.
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"His body language was just someone who was just... he obviously wasn't enjoying it, he wasn't enjoying the sort of scrutiny and the intense questions about the guy on his left, Ten Hag's career.
"I was just looking at Andrew, I thought, 'This must be really painful for him because he knows how painful this must be for Ten Hag'."