ERIK TEN HAG has insisted that Manchester United want to rebuild with him in charge – amid claims he is a dead man walking.
The Dutchman is believed to be on his way out of the club regardless of the result in the FA Cup final today.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have already drawn up a four-man shortlist to replace the manager.
Ten Hag, 54, has remained defiant and has insisted that he was told that he was wanted to lead the rebuild.
He told Dutch outlet Voetbal International: “They said they want to change everything and that they want to rebuild with me.
“This is what they told me directly.
“Let me be clear. It has been bad. It has been crap.
“But despite everything, we are going to play an FA Cup final.”
Ten Hag is widely expected to be sacked following the Wembley final and the club refused to back him when approached over the rumours.
He claimed that the club’s record-breakingly poor season was partly down to injuries throughout the campaign.
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Ten Hag’s five worst defeats
ERIK TEN HAG has suffered some heavy defeats during his tenure as Manchester United manager.
5. Copenhagen 4-3 Man Utd, November 2023
The damaging defeat saw the Red Devils dumped out of the Champions League.
4. Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth, December 2023
It was the first time the Cherries had ever won at Old Trafford with the players being booed off.
3. Brentford 4-0 Man Utd, August 2022
Perhaps a sign of things to come, in Ten Hag’s second Premier League game, his side was dismantled by the Bees.
2. Crystal Palace 4-0 Man Utd, May 2024
The heavy defeat to the Eagles saw the Dutchman edge ever closer to the sack.
1. Liverpool 7-0 Man Utd, March 2023
Man Utd were embarrassed at the hands of their bitter rivals as they crumbled at Anfield as it was the club’s worst defeat in 92 years.
He said: “The injuries have been really crazy.
“Not long ago, I had to start my 15th different centre-back duo of the season. I have had 33 different defensive lines this season.
Ten Hag’s six worst defeats as Man Utd manager
“Sofyan Amrabat had to play left back four times. We have had injuries all over the pitch.
“Casemiro has been out for a long time. Rasmus Hojlund, the striker we bought, suffered from three injuries and I can keep going on and on. This is the core story of our season.
“Tyrell Malacia didn’t play a single minute of football this season. In fact, he didn’t even spend a single moment out on the training pitch.
“We signed him as our back-up for Luke Shaw, who is the best left back in the world. This guy is so good.
“But he has suffered a horrible injury at the start of his career and because of this, he will never be able to play 60 games per season.”
The manager went on to discuss his transfer plans for the summer and revealed three areas he is looking to strengthen.
He added: “We need to sign an extra striker in the summer.
“And if we can sign another central midfielder and a replacement for [Raphael] Varane, things will look good again.
“If the team remains, fit we can try and aim the for top four again.”
The four names on the shortlist to replace Ten Hag are Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Thomas Frank and Kieran McKenna.
McKenna believes that he will be returning to Old Trafford having been a former coach and assistant at the club.
Ten Hag also hit out at pundits who have called for him to be sacked and have been critical of his tenure as manager.
He added: “The pundits in England want to score, they want to show they are worth the money, and for that Manchester United is an easy prey.
“It’s the biggest club in England and possibly in the world. The club is either loved or hated, there is no in-between. So when things go bad, they all start talking and talking with very big words.
“All this negativism from these so called experts who don’t have the capability to analyse something with facts, but who prefer to attack people to make themselves look better.
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“And these same people were the ones who gave me a pat on the back last year. Last year I was able to walk on water, this year I am the worst manager in the Premier League.”
