‘Not convinced’ – Erik ten Hag may have won the FA Cup but Manchester United manager still needs replacing

Jermaine Jenas believes Manchester United need to part ways with Erik ten Hag – despite him masterminding the club’s FA Cup triumph.

The Dutchman won his second trophy with the Red Devils last Saturday by beating rivals Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley.

3

United’s victory comes amid rumors it could be Ten Hag’s final game in charge of the team after a campaign which saw them finish eighth in the Premier League.

And despite winning the title for the second successive season at Old Trafford, former Tottenham midfielder Jenas believes United should consider a replacement.

Speaking to Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent on talkSPORT Drive, he said: “Well, the fans and everyone’s mindset is: ‘Are Manchester United in a bit of a pickle after realizing the ‘one of his best performances of the year to win this victory?’ ‘

“I still think they should look elsewhere personally, because I think a manager’s performance is based on the longevity of a season.

“When I look at Manchester United at the moment… keeping in mind that the performance was a very specific, tailor-made performance for a match.

“So it was more like: ‘Manchester City are going to have a lot of the ball, we can sit back and play counter-attacking football’, Manchester United fans are not going to accept this week in and week out at Old Trafford.

“They want to have the ball, they want to dominate matches, they want to play attacking, exciting football, right?

“So I haven’t personally seen…why is he here (for), two years? I don’t think I’ve seen many performances where I can sit here and say, ‘That’s a performance by Erik ten Hag.’ To this day, I still don’t know what he’s doing!”

3

3

Goldstein then asked if it takes time for players to get used to a manager and tactics, leading Jenas to remark: “I don’t think it takes two years.

“I think six months is enough time to look at a team and say, ‘OK, you might not win games, but I totally understand the direction this team is going now, and even during this period, I’m willing to accept losses because you try this and you try that.

“I think looking at Erik ten Hag, and we have to take this into account as well, from an injury point of view, he’s been through a bit of a nightmare, it’s true.

“Luke Shaw, (Tyrell) Malacia, he hasn’t had a left side in God knows how long. I’m just not convinced myself.

“I understand why Manchester United fans should hugely appreciate the trophies he has won over the last couple of years because obviously being at Spurs you realize these things don’t happen very often and the fans would love it. ‘one of the two.

“But if I look at Manchester United fans in two, three, five years, I just don’t think he’s the man who’s going to take them back to the dominant position they need.”

United have been linked with former manager Kieran McKenna amid Ten Hag’s uncertain future, but he looks set to stay at Ipswich Town.

Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Gareth Southgate are among the contenders for the hot seat in the event of a change.