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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jonathan Wilson

Ten Hag could not save Manchester United job by emulating Ferguson

Ten Hag Manchester United Alex Ferguson Van Gaal the FA Cup Anthony Martial Cup Erik ten Hag Louis van Gaal Mark Robins
Erik ten Hag with Alex Ferguson after last year’s FA Cup final defeat
Erik ten Hag with Alex Ferguson after last year’s FA Cup final defeat. It would be ludicrous if the Dutchman’s fate had come to rest on a single game. Photograph: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images

This isn’t 1990, but it isn’t 2016 either. Alex Ferguson may have kept his job by winning the FA Cup in 1989-90 while Louis van Gaal learned of his dismissal while celebrating on the pitch at Wembley after the 2015-16 final, but the difference in the situations wasn’t just to do with the diminishing value of the FA Cup.

Perhaps it was always a little anachronistic in 2024 to be wondering whether Erik ten Hag might be saved by victory in Saturday’s FA Cup final, but this had been a weird throwback of a campaign for Manchester United. As it is, the decision has been taken and Ten Hag at least will not face quite the indignity suffered by Van Gaal.

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