Winning the FA Cup famously saved Sir Alex Ferguson’s bacon, and now it seems to have come to Erik ten Hag’s rescue too.
From a dead man walking at Wembley 18 days ago, Ten Hag finally has a vote of confidence and the promise of a contract extension.
‘Football, bloody hell,’ was Ferguson’s most memorable quote, and never did it feel more apt than when news of United’s U-turn broke late last night.
An end-of-season review that felt like little more than camouflage for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and new minority owners Ineos to hawk his job to anyone who would listen has ended, quite extraordinarily, with the Dutchman staying in charge.
The feelgood factor from United’s victory over Manchester City last month, and the palpable surge of support for Ten Hag among the fanbase, has clearly turned Ratcliffe’s head.
Winning the FA Cup appears to have been decisive in Erik ten Hag remaining Man United boss
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos group have decided to keep Ten Hag and offer him a new deal
The FA Cup feelgood factor and a surge in fan support has clearly turned Ratcliffe’s head
Club sources confirmed last night that winning his second trophy in two seasons – and the manner of United’s surprise 2-1 win over City – was one of the primary reasons Ten Hag has kept his job, as was the professionalism and dignity with which he conducted himself in very difficult circumstances.
United also recognised the work Ten Hag has done in developing young players like Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho – the two scorers at Wembley – and came to the conclusion that he deserved the chance to prove himself in a new structure led by chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
After poring over United’s worst-ever Premier League season and lamentable Champions League exit at the group stage, they concluded that a chronic injury list and the difficulty in bedding in new signings Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana were worthy of some empathy.
On the other hand, there was a legitimate view that if Ineos thought Ten Hag was toast at lunchtime on Cup Final day then they should have stuck by their guns after he climbed the steps to the Royal Box to receive the congratulations from Ratcliffe.
But how many times have we talked about the Mark Robins goal that saved Ferguson from the sack before he lifted the FA Cup in 1990? Look what happened after that, and…