Ten Hag's Job on the Line as United Face City in FA Cup Final

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."

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