This time last week, Manchester United was preparing to play in the FA Cup final.
To get his players to perform, Erik Ten Hag used a variety of motivational strategies. He also played a clip of Al Pacino’s “Any Given Sunday” speech.
Pacino’s character now declares, “We’re in hell.” We have two options: either we battle our way back into the light or we stay here and get the crap kicked out of us. One inch at a time, we can escape hell. All around us are the necessary inches. They are present with every game break and instant.”
Although most people anticipated that Manchester City would raise the trophy following their Premier League victory, the bookmakers priced United at 8/1 to win, but the game didn’t go as planned.
United looked great right from the start and looked transformed. There was less room to exploit, the pressuring was done cleverly, and the tactical shape was different.
At Wembley, the Reds earned their triumph and rightfully raised the trophy. It was a memorable day in the nation’s capital, and the celebrations featured some wonderful, uplifting moments that served as a nice counterbalance to an otherwise depressing season.
It is no longer necessary to remind people that United had a dreadful season, finished ninth in the Premier League, and suffered the most defeats in a top-flight campaign.
Ten Hag would be lucky to remain at Old Trafford given the amount of evidence that implies United was eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and Europe before Christmas.
Emotions have affected thinking since the FA Cup final victory, and some fans have devised positive and negative columns to assess whether to keep Ten Hag.
Just 39% of readers were in favor of Ten Hag staying after the 4-0 thrashing at Crystal Palace when the MEN asked them their opinions. But when the poll was re-released following the FA Cup final, the percentage of respondents who supported keeping him more than doubled to 79%.
The fact that there were 19 days between those games demonstrates why the supporters aren’t in charge of managing the football team, even if they should be heard on important matters. Emotions have no bearing on the choice about Ten Hag’s destiny. The United board must make an unbiased selection based on the facts gathered throughout the season.
The build-up to the FA Cup final reminded me of the summer of 2016 when Louis van Gaal was fired following the match; however, a week has gone by and no word has been given regarding the decision. It seems obvious that a decision would be made regarding Ten Hag, but sources on Tuesday suggested that one wasn’t expected this week.
Although Ten Hag should be respected and it was wise to hold off on firing him right after the FA Cup final, it’s strange that it’s taking so long to announce Ten Hag’s future. For what reason is Ineos waiting? Have feelings influenced the way they are thinking? Do they retain Ten Hag? Or was it just their desire to treat it respectfully and appropriately? These three scenarios are the only ones that might account for the delay.
Ratcliffe’s agreement to purchase a minority position was first revealed on Christmas Eve, and his transaction was formally approved in February. It was in everyone’s best advantage to make an announcement this week, as INEOS had ample opportunity to organize their affairs.
Plans for the summer transfer window are being delayed by the protracted uncertainty, which means that no new evidence from the season will emerge despite it having been there for months.
This time next week, United might be looking for a new manager.