SUMMARY
- Erik ten Hag has seemingly had enough of media criticism.
- The dutch manager had a heated press conference ahead of Manchester United's clash against Sheffield United.
It seems like Manchester United cannot stop itself from being in controversies. The club’s latest ordeal includes the game against Coventry City in the FA Cup 23/24 semi-finals, where ‘The Red Devils’ barely managed to win against the Championship side.
This invited some heavy criticism from the media and soccer pundits who questioned the character and the leadership of the club. Moreover, many of them believed that Manchester United was in fact lucky to have not suffered defeat at the hands of Coventry City.
🚨🔴 Ten Hag: “The reaction, the comments after Coventry game… that was a disgrace”.
“That was embarrassing from you. It is the comments. Top football is about results, we made it to a final and we deserved it not only by this game but also the other games”. pic.twitter.com/IaSgNeccJL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 23, 2024
However, it seems that the English club’s manager Erik ten Hag wasn’t too impressed with his team’s criticism after the game. The 54-year-old was appalled at the disgraceful comments from the English media despite his team reaching the final of the FA Cup. Ahead of the Premier League clash against Sheffield United, ten Hag had a heated press conference.
He said, “The reaction, the comments after Coventry game… that was a disgrace”. “That was embarrassing from you. It is the comments. Top football is about results, we made it to a final and we deserved it not only by this game but also the other games”.
Erik ten Hag believes that some of the criticism was unjustified as it discounts the result at the end of the game. Moreover, the Dutchman said that Manchester United deserved to go into the final.
Erik ten Hag justifies Antony’s over-the-top celebrations in the penalty shootout
The Dutch tactician didn’t stop his media bashing just right there as the Manchester United boss believes that the media was unfair in its criticism of Antony. The Brazilian was targeted worldwide for his ‘cupping-the-ear’ celebration in front of Coventry City players after winning the penalty shootout.
This had invited harsh criticism from some soccer pundits, who thought that the Brazilian’s poor numbers in the 23/24 season did not allow him to be so extravagant with his celebration. Some pundits even went a little too far with their selection of words to express their anger over Antony’s antics.
However, Erik ten Hag believes that the winger’s celebrations were not too offensive, as he believed it came as revenge against a provocation. He said, “‘Did you see the reaction of Harry Maguire? He (Antony) was provocated, that’s why this was a reaction of that. You haven’t seen the provocation, you have seen only the reaction. But he should not do it.”
Ten Hag on Antony’s reaction: ‘Did you see the reaction of Harry Maguire? He (Antony) was provocated, that’s why this was a reaction of that. You haven’t seen the provocation, you have seen only the reaction. But he should not do it.’ #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) April 23, 2024
Erik ten Hag believes that people haven’t known the true side of the story which includes Coventry City provocating Antony. Therefore, the people should not base their opinion on Antony’s celebration by watching Harry Maguire’s handshakes with Coventry players.
The Dutchman believed that, unlike Maguire, Antony had a reason to celebrate as he was provoked. However, Erik ten Hag also wished that the Brazilian hadn’t celebrated the way he did.
Erik ten Hag reportedly is on the verge of losing his job at Manchester United
The FA Cup semi-final has certainly compelled the United board to doubt the Erik ten Hag project at Manchester United. The Dutchman has been given an ample amount of time and resources but hasn’t been able to produce the desired results on the pitch.
Manchester United is only 7th on the Premier League table with 50 points from 32 games and is well out of the UEFA Champions League race for next season. Moreover, their qualification to the FA Cup finals too won’t be very pleasing for the United hierarchy, as the club blew away a 3-goal lead to a Championship side.
Under such circumstances, the rumors of Erik ten Hag receiving the sack have received traction lately. It is said that the club’s new minority investors the Sir Jim Ratcliffe-led INEOS Group want to revamp Man Utd. from the following season, with a new manager as their top priority.
🚨 Zinedine Zidane would prefer to become coach of Manchester United rather than Bayern Munich! 🇫🇷
(Source: @lequipe) pic.twitter.com/zqrnFxnTgn
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) April 19, 2024
It is said that Zinedine Zidane is Sir Jim’s preferred man for the job. Moreover, it has also been revealed that out of the two clubs that Zizou has been offered to manage from the 24/25 season-FC Bayern Munich and Manchester United, the Frenchman is more inclined towards ‘The Red Devils’.
Other names on the list include former Chelsea manager Graham Potter, Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, etc. Given the resumes of the managers linked with the job, it is highly likely that Erik ten Hag’s days at Manchester United are numbered. It would be interesting to see how the club deals with the Dutchman in the coming days.
