Football

Erik ten Hag's tenure at Manchester United has been extended until 2026, as the Premier League club announced on Thursday. The Dutchman has been given another chance to restore the record 20-time champions to their former glories.Ten Hag's appointment in 2022 came after a disappointing eighth-place finish for United in the previous season. Despite speculation of his dismissal, a shock FA Cup final victory over Manchester City earned him a lifeline.In his first season, Ten Hag instilled a sense of togetherness that had been missing since Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. United enjoyed a nine-match winning run in all competitions, lifting the League Cup and finishing third in the Premier League.However, the second season proved more challenging. Despite winning two trophies, results and performances fell away dramatically. Ten Hag's side struggled early on, but he maintained the support of the fan base.Ten Hag's contract extension is a testament to his ability to turn around the fortunes of a struggling team. He has brought a sense of stability and unity to United, and his commitment to developing young players has been praised."Looking back at the past two years, we can reflect with pride on two trophies and many examples of progression from where we were when I joined," Ten Hag said in a statement. "We must also be clear that there is still lots of hard work ahead to reach the levels expected of Manchester United, which means challenging for English and European titles."United's Sporting Director, Dan Ashworth, praised Ten Hag's record as one of the most consistently successful coaches in European football. He emphasized the club's belief in Ten Hag's ability to drive up standards and outcomes.Despite the extension, Ten Hag faces a significant challenge in the upcoming season. United have spent over 400 million pounds on new players since his arrival, but results have not always met expectations.Ten Hag will need to find a way to balance the demands of competing in multiple competitions while also developing a consistent and winning style of play. If he can do that, United could be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.

Erik ten Hag's future at Manchester United has been secured after a positive post-season review by club chiefs. The Dutchman, who is entering the final year of his contract, is set to extend his stay at Old Trafford.Ten Hag's first season at United was a mixed bag. While he led the team to a League Cup triumph and a third-place finish in the Premier League, they also suffered disappointing exits from the Champions League and FA Cup. However, a stunning 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final has boosted his reputation.Despite United's eighth-place finish in the league, their lowest since 1990, and their early Champions League exit, Ten Hag has impressed the club's hierarchy with his work ethic and commitment to developing the team.The 54-year-old has admitted that he inherited a "mess" when he arrived at United, but he believes that the team is now on the right track. "We are now better but by far not where we want to be," he said after the FA Cup final.Ten Hag's success in his first season has seen him linked with other top clubs, including Bayern Munich and Chelsea. However, he has repeatedly stated his commitment to United and is eager to continue the project he has started.The club's new co-owner, Jim Ratcliffe, is believed to be a supporter of Ten Hag and is keen to keep him at the helm. Ratcliffe has reportedly held talks with Thomas Tuchel, but the former Chelsea boss has ruled himself out of the running.Other managers who have been linked with the United job include Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter, Thomas Frank, Roberto De Zerbi, and Gareth Southgate. However, Ten Hag's strong finish to the season has convinced the club that he is the right man to lead them forward.

Erik ten Hag's tactical brilliance led Manchester United to a stunning 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, potentially saving his job and sparking comparisons to legendary manager Alex Ferguson.Despite a turbulent season, Ten Hag's team executed a masterclass, neutralizing Pep Guardiola's City side with a deep defensive block and clinical counterattacks. Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo scored first-half goals to put United in control.City's double bid was shattered as they struggled to break down United's resolute defense. Jeremy Doku's late strike provided a glimmer of hope, but it was too little, too late.Ten Hag's triumph echoes Ferguson's 1990 FA Cup win against Crystal Palace, which kick-started his remarkable reign. United shareholder Jim Ratcliffe, who has been linked with potential replacements, witnessed the Dutchman's triumph.Despite finishing eighth in the Premier League and crashing out of the Champions League, Ten Hag has now won two trophies in three cup final appearances. He believes injuries were the root of United's problems and points to his success in cup competitions as proof of his capabilities.United's victory also secures Europa League qualification, avoiding a season without European action. City, on the other hand, looked hungover after their Premier League title celebrations and failed to match their usual intensity.Ten Hag's tactical masterclass has given United fans hope for the future. His ability to motivate his team and outsmart Guardiola has earned him a stay of execution and potentially a longer tenure at Old Trafford.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag faces a pivotal moment in his tenure as he aims to salvage his job by thwarting Manchester City's historic bid in the FA Cup final on Saturday. The Wembley showdown marks the second consecutive Manchester derby in the showpiece event, with City triumphing 2-1 last year en route to an unprecedented treble.Despite United's League Cup triumph earlier this season, their turbulent campaign has left Ten Hag's future in jeopardy. The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League, their lowest final position since 1990, and failed to progress beyond the Champions League group stage. Ten Hag has attributed their struggles to injuries, but his reported clashes with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford have raised concerns about squad harmony.United's path to the FA Cup final was far from convincing, as they squandered a three-goal lead and survived a penalty shootout against second-tier Coventry in the semi-final. The erratic nature of Ten Hag's team has fueled speculation about his potential replacement, with Gareth Southgate, Mauricio Pochettino, and Kieran McKenna among those linked with the Old Trafford job.Ten Hag's hopes of remaining at United hinge on spoiling City's bid to become the first English club to win both the Premier League and FA Cup two years in a row. "I came here to win trophies," Ten Hag declared. "I'm just focusing on the job I have to do. That is first to win the game on Saturday and then keep going in the project."United, who have lost six of the past seven Manchester derbies, must lift the Cup for the first time in eight years to avoid their first season without European action since 2014/15. Goalkeeper Andre Onana, despite a challenging debut campaign, is determined to repay the fans' support with victory at Wembley.City's dominance in the Premier League has extended to six titles in seven years, solidifying their status as one of the greatest English teams of all time. Pep Guardiola's men pipped Arsenal by two points after winning their last nine league games, setting the stage for more history at Wembley.City captain Kyle Walker attributes their success to Guardiola's relentless drive and intensity. "He's addicted to winning. He is addicted and it rubs off on us," Walker said. Playmaker Bernardo Silva believes City thrive under pressure, stating, "Sometimes at the beginning of the season when we don't have that much pressure, the team relaxes when it shouldn't and at the end of the season we always compensate for it."

Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, has emphasized the importance of winning the FA Cup to reward the unwavering support of the club's loyal fans. Despite a disappointing Premier League campaign that saw United finish eighth, their worst position since 1990, Ten Hag believes that lifting the FA Cup would provide some solace.United's hopes of European qualification now hinge on their performance in the FA Cup final against Manchester City next weekend. A victory at Wembley would also have a significant impact on Ten Hag's future at Old Trafford, following a tumultuous season marked by injuries and poor results.The Dutchman acknowledged the unwavering support of United's fans throughout the difficult campaign, despite the team's struggles. "We have the best fans in the world," Ten Hag said. "They have been with us through thick and thin, and we owe it to them to give them a trophy."Ten Hag emphasized the need for improvement in the upcoming season, stating, "We have to perform better. We have to pay back our fans and give them something to cheer about."United's disappointing league campaign saw them suffer 14 defeats and finish with a negative goal difference. However, Ten Hag believes that the team has the potential to bounce back and achieve success."We have a lot of work to do, but I am confident that we can turn things around," Ten Hag said. "We have a talented squad, and we are determined to make our fans proud."

David Beckham, a legendary Manchester United player, has expressed his disappointment with the team's recent performances and urged the players to demonstrate their commitment to the club. Beckham, who was a key member of United's treble-winning team in 1999, believes that the players must take responsibility for their poor results."You'd hope that the manager doesn't have to do much," Beckham said. "I think that's the whole point of being a Manchester United player and playing in these big games - you should be motivated."United manager Erik ten Hag is facing immense pressure after the team's embarrassing 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace on Monday. The defeat left United languishing in eighth place in the Premier League, and Ten Hag's future at the club is in doubt.Beckham believes that the players must step up and prove their worth, especially in the upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester City. "When you're a professional footballer and you're doing the job you love and you're at the club you love, when you're playing in any game, whether it's a regular season game or whether it's an FA Cup final against your rivals, that should be enough motivation," he said."And, if it's not, then you're in the wrong team and you're playing the wrong sport. We went into every game, whether it was a youth cup game, a friendly game, off-season or a European Cup final, with the same mentality and the same drive."Beckham, who won six Premier League titles and one Champions League with United, admitted that he has been disappointed by the club's struggles since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. "Obviously it's been a tough five, 10, 15 years at United and we all know that but it was never going to be easy when the boss left, (Roy) Keane left, Giggsy (Ryan Giggs) left, Gary (Neville) left," he said."All of these important players and personalities and characters all left United, it was always going to be a difficult time. We want the lads to feel - from this documentary - the inspiration of being this successful."

Manchester United's hopes of European football next season suffered a major blow as they were thrashed 4-0 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday. The defeat leaves United in eighth place in the Premier League table with just 54 points from 35 games, two points behind Newcastle United in sixth.A makeshift United defense, which included Casemiro at center-back, was easily exploited by Palace on several occasions. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell were also on the scoresheet for the impressive win, while Michael Olise scored a brace.United had several injury absentees and were without Bruno Fernandes, but the ease with which they were beaten will be a huge concern for everyone at the club."A big disappointment. We just had an off-day and we weren't in it," midfielder Christian Eriksen told BBC. "It is what it is. We can't really change the injury things. We have to do what we can on the pitch to change it.""Today it didn't matter who we played. Everyone could have done better. We tried to do what we could but we were not good enough. We'll take the blame as players."It is the first time in the Premier League era that United have lost 13 games in a season, and the scoreline could have been worse.The home side took the lead inside 12 minutes as Olise collected a throw and evaded a limp challenge from Casemiro. With no United player attempting to close him down, he was able to unleash a low shot from just inside the box.It was 2-0 five minutes before the break as Mateta breezed past United defender Jonny Evans and thrashed the ball into the net for a ninth goal in 11 games since the arrival of Glasner in February.The striker had scored 11 goals in his previous 80 games for Palace before that.United's makeshift defense was struggling to contain the movement of their hosts, and when Diogo Dalot failed to deal with a ball to the back post, Mitchell had a tap-in.Olise's second goal added more salt to the wound, and it could have been worse for the visitors as Odsonne Edouard saw his shot come back off the woodwork late on."I think we could have got a few more. That shows the potential we have to play against any team in the league," Palace defender Chris Richards said.

Manchester United's rollercoaster season took another dramatic turn as they overcame a stunning collapse to defeat Coventry City 4-2 on penalties in an FA Cup semi-final classic.Erik ten Hag's side cruised to a 3-0 lead at Wembley Stadium, with goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes. However, Coventry staged a remarkable comeback, with Ellis Simms, Callum O'Hare, and Haji Wright scoring to level the match at 3-3 in the 95th minute.The second half saw a complete reversal of fortunes. Coventry, who had struggled to create chances in the first half, suddenly found their rhythm. Simms pulled one back in the 71st minute, and O'Hare equalized in the 79th minute.As extra time approached, Coventry's momentum continued to grow. Victor Torp forced a sharp save from United goalkeeper Andre Onana, and Wright converted a penalty in the dying seconds to send the match into extra time.In extra time, both teams had chances to win it. Fernandes rattled the crossbar, while Simms hit the underside of the crossbar. Coventry thought they had won it in the final seconds, but VAR ruled out Torp's goal for offside.The penalty shootout proved to be a tense affair. Casemiro's weak penalty was saved by Coventry goalkeeper Bradley Collins, but O'Hare and Ben Sheaf missed their spot-kicks. Rasmus Hojlund stepped up to take the decisive penalty and sent United through to the final.Manchester City await United in the final, after they defeated Chelsea 1-0 in the other semi-final. It will be a repeat of last year's final, which City won 1-0.

Mark Robins, the former Manchester United striker who played a pivotal role in the club's resurgence under Alex Ferguson, is now plotting to inflict misery on his old team as Coventry City manager in the FA Cup semi-final.Robins' goal against Nottingham Forest in the third round of the 1990 FA Cup proved to be a turning point in United's history. It helped save Ferguson's job and sparked a cascade of trophies under his leadership. Robins also scored the winner in the semi-final against Oldham, paving the way for United's first FA Cup triumph under Ferguson.Despite United's recent struggles, they remain firm favorites at Wembley against Coventry. However, Robins believes the pressure is on Erik ten Hag's side, who have endured a dismal second season in charge."People are talking in a derisory way about Manchester United," Robins said. "But they're still the biggest club in the world, with talented players and top international players."Coventry, meanwhile, have stuttered in recent weeks, losing three of their past four games. But Robins is confident his team can cause an upset."We know they are clearly favorites to win this game," Robins said. "But we will get opportunities against a United team who concede a lot of chances."Coventry are bidding to become the first second-tier club to reach the FA Cup final since Cardiff in 2008. Robins has done a remarkable job since returning for a second stint in 2017, taking the club from the fourth tier to the brink of the Premier League last season.Ten Hag is aware of the threat posed by Coventry."We know the manager, a former United player, striker, his long period there, he's doing a fantastic job there," Ten Hag said. "So, we know a lot about them.""Of course they are dangerous, they are in the semi-final. It's logical. Last season, they were that far away (a small margin) from being promoted to the Premier League. So they do a fantastic job over there."