Man Utd told media ‘want’ to ‘persecute’ the ‘frontrunner’ to replace Ten Hag amid ‘mistake’ claim
Manchester United have been encouraged to stick with Erik ten Hag as they would be making a “mistake” if they sack the former Ajax head coach.
Ten Hag is nearing the end of his second season as Man Utd boss and it is being suggested that he could be replaced before the 2024/25 campaign.
The Dutchman enjoyed a strong debut season but this campaign has been difficult for the Red Devils. They have reached the FA Cup semi-finals but they currently sit seventh in the Premier League.
If he’s to keep his job, Ten Hag likely needs to win the FA Cup but this will be difficult as Chelsea or Man City await them in the final if they beat Coventry City in their semi-final on Sunday afternoon at Wembley.
“Would it be a mistake? Yes…”
Ex-United player Paul Parker has explained why his former club should back Ten Hag as the ‘frontrunner’ to replace him – Graham Potter – would be “persecuted” by the media if he’s to take over.
“Should they sack him? No. Would it be a mistake? Yes. Cause there’s no one out there. People are scratching their heads about who’s next,” Parker said during an interview with mybettingsites.
Related video: Erik ten Hag denies Man Utd squad is fractured after Alejandro Garnacho incident (Daily Mail)
Can I just ask you about Ganache?
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“Whoever comes in is going to want to do exactly the same as Erik ten Hag. If the club is willing to do exactly that, then they have to decide who’s the best person to lead what they want to bring in.
“If you look at that starting XI, there’s about five you’d like to get rid of. And if the club were to say yes to that then they got to decide who they want to manage after that.
“Looking at the media, they want Graham Potter in another job, maybe to persecute him again when he’s managing another club. They enjoy that. We had a go at him at Chelsea and we’ll have an even bigger go at him at Manchester United because that carries more weight.”
Parker has also claimed that Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi “would suit” Man Utd “more than Liverpool” but the “press are playing their own game”.
“They (the media) keep trying to mention Gareth Southgate for Man Utd. He doesn’t get mentioned for the Liverpool job but does for Man Utd. You’d think what’s going on here and you know the reason for that,” Parker added.
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“De Zerbi would suit Manchester United more than Liverpool but he’s mentioned with Liverpool and not Man Utd. So the press are playing their own game of what they want to do. They’re trying to become control freaks. It’s political football now and politics was never meant to be in sports. Seems like they are now.”
“They shouldn’t change him (ten Hag). He should be allowed to work in the best situation that has been at the club since the Glazers arrived. He should be given the opportunity to do that and given the say-so to talk to the players in the manner that fits his role.”
Ten Hag heaps praise on exiled Man Utd winger with big hint dropped on uncertain future
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag acknowledged “fantastic” Jadon Sancho’s role in Borussia Dortmund progress to the Champions League semi-finals, but said nothing has changed regarding his future.
Sancho, 25, rejoined Dortmund in January after a very public falling out with Ten Hag earlier this season and has since regained some confidence having begun to play regularly under Edin Terzic at Signal Iduna Park.
The 24-year-old played 86 minutes in Dortmund’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg victory over Atletico Madrid, which has seen them set up a repeat of their Group F clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the last four.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Madrid, Dortmund ran out 4-2 winners thanks to goals from Julian Brandt, Ian Maatsen, Niclas Fullkrug and Marcel Sabitzer.
Asked about Sancho in his pre-match press conference ahead of the FA Cup semi-final clash with Coventry City this weekend, Ten Hag praised the winger but refused to be drawn on whether he may be reintegrated upon his return in the summer.
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“Of course, I follow international football and follow the players on loan at other clubs,”, Ten Hag said.Related video: Erik ten Hag denies Man Utd squad is fractured after Alejandro Garnacho incident (Daily Mail)
Can I just ask you about Ganache?
“It was a fantastic game, Dortmund against Atletico Madrid. A great performance from Dortmund and also for Jadon it’s good news. He made his contribution to the result for Dortmund.
“We know Jadon Sancho is a fantastic football player, so that is not a surprise for us. That is not the issue.”
Man Utd return unlikely for Sancho while Ten Hag remains
Sancho’s form in his first spell, when he scored 38 Bundesliga goals and registered 45 assists in four seasons, persuaded United to spend £72m on him in 2021 when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge. But he struggled to find that consistency at Old Trafford even before Ten Hag’s arrival a year later.
An angry social media post from Sancho in September in response to comments made by Ten Hag about his performances in training following a defeat to Arsenal, a game which Sancho was not involved in, sparked an exile from the first team and his eventual Dortmund return.
A reconciliation between player and manager seems unlikely, but there is not believed to be any clauses to extend Sancho’s stay in Germany.
As things stand, United are still planning to sell Sancho in the summer. That could change, however, if Ten Hag is sacked by Sir Jim Ratcliffe ahead of next season.
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Man Utd news: Erik ten Hag shuts down Jadon Sancho theory and defends under-fire star
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has a big chance to save his job this weekend.
The Red Devils have one final opportunity to lift silverware this season. They take on Championship side Coventry in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Should they earn victory, they will take on either Chelsea or Manchester City in the final. Ten Hag has had his squad hard at work over the past week in preparation for Sunday’s clash.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe potentially looking to replace him, the Dutchman will certainly be keeping his fingers crossed for a win. With that being said, take a look at all of the latest headlines coming out of Old Trafford:
Ten Hag shoots down Sancho theory
Man United boss Ten Hag has claimed that it was not a mistake letting Jadon Sancho go despite suggestions to the contrary. Former Liverpool star Mark Lawrenson had claimed that Sancho should have stayed at Old Trafford.
He said: “Erik ten Hag letting Jadon Sancho go was a big mistake given the form of some of the Manchester United players – you can’t say he wouldn’t have done better than them.
“It was a decision that Ten Hag took, but they could have used Sancho for the second half of the season. He’s a talented player and would have been useful for them, so I think he made a mistake with letting him go to Germany.”
Speaking in a press conference, Ten Hag said: "We know he [Sancho] is a fantastic player. That is not a surprise. That is not the issue."
Does Jadon Sancho have a future at Man United? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Ten Hag leaps to Casemiro defence
While Sancho’s future is up in the air, another player who has also been criticised is midfielder Casemiro. Former Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp was particularly outspoken on the Brazilian's form after the draw against Bournemouth.Related video: Coventry dangerous opponent, Mark Robins doing well - Ten Hag (Dailymotion)
But Ten Hag believes that the former Real Madrid star will be a success at Old Trafford. He said: “We needed a six when I arrived here and last season he was fantastic. I don’t think he had ever scored so many goals but as a holding midfielder, he was so important to the team.
“This season he has struggled with a bad injury that he never had in his career but he is such a winner - all his career, he has always won. Everywhere he was, there was success. And I trust he will also bring us success."
Fabregas hails Mainoo
One man who is sure to stay at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future is Kobbie Mainoo. Former Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he is a huge fan of the youngster.
He said: ''He's not only the future, he's the present already. He’s got a fantastic personality [it’s] like he’s been playing for a long time. To help him in the summer, they need to recruit players who can gain this quality on the pitch to make him more brilliant than what he is.
"With these talented players, the better quality they get around him, the better they get. So I am expecting a big summer transfer window for Manchester United … but next season he needs to be a key player no matter what."
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Jurgen Klopp warned Liverpool exit is ‘causing stress’ as dream next job hopes are cruelly ended
Departing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been told his impending exit at Anfield is causing his side to play below their best with his players’ desperate to give him a happy ending having a negative impact on results – and the German’s hopes of landing a dream next job have also now gone up in smoke.
The charismatic German has proven one of the most successful Liverpool managers in history, having guided the Reds to seven major trophies during his time at helm. But with his near nine-year stint at the helm due to end on May 19 – just under a month’s time – Liverpool’s hopes of giving him a golden farewell are fading fast – with a nightmare scenario playing out instead.
Just 10 days ago, the Merseysiders had strong hopes of winning a potential treble to wave the 54-year-old off into the sunset. However, a disastrous week saw them suffer two losses in four days, with Atalanta winning 3-0 at Anfield in the Europa League quarter-final first leg and then with a 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League handing the title initiative to Manchester City.
GO DEEPER: Ten of the best players Jurgen Klopp missed out on during his time at LiverpoolRelated video: Klopp accepts lack of threat cost Liverpool dear in European exit (SNTV)
And while they did manage to win 1-0 in Thursday’s second leg against the Serie A side in Bergamo on Thursday, the heavy loss in the first leg meant there would be no dream comeback this time around.
The Reds return to Premier League action on Sunday with a clash against Fulham at Craven Cottage. And while a win could take them top if Arsenal fail to win at Wolves on Saturday evening, the fact Manchester City have a game in hand on them could prove to be key.
Klopp warned of nightmare end to Liverpool reign
Now with just six games left of his time as Liverpool boss, Klopp was warned earlier this week that his side were looking “flat and dejected” and with a “horrible end” predicted for him at Anfield.
Following their failure to mount a big enough comeback against Atalanta to extend their Europa League adventure, former Reds midfielder Don Hutchison feels that the German’s impending exit is starting to weigh heavy on the Reds squad, who are desperate to ensure they give their boss a happy ending.
But with the additional stress of that situation seeing them fail to score a goal from open play for 276 minutes, Hutchison fears the season is set to end with a whimper for Klopp.
“It is weighing on them – I see a team that is playing under stress,” Hutchison told TNT Sports.
“They are a team under pressure – they are trying to finish off the season because of Jurgen Klopp’s farewell.”
Former Reds striker Peter Crouch added: “It has been a difficult week for them. They’ll take the positives of winning away from home at a difficult place but it is slightly concerning at the moment.”
With Klopp set to leave Merseyside in just 30 days’ time, the German will give his all to the cause in that remaining time.
Having cited, though, in his exit statement in January that he is a man who has run out of steam, the German will undoubtedly be ready for a break and the chance to recharge his batteries.
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Next Klopp job: Dream appointment hopes ended
By many accounts, Klopp will reportedly take a year-long break from the game before considering his next managerial role. With a luxury villa tucked away in the Majorcan hills, the 54-year-old has the perfect retreat to escape from the brutal realities of top-level football management.
However, those who know Klopp see a man who is a workaholic and will shortly soon miss the day-to-day. To that end, it has been strongly claimed that the departing Reds boss has viewed the Germany national job as his dream next role, with those close to him suggesting the chance to lead his country into the 2026 World Cup would be hugely tempting for him.
Speaking previously about the role, Klopp has said: “The job of national coach is and would be a great honour – there’s no question about that.
“The problem that stands in the way of the whole thing is my loyalty. I can’t just leave Liverpool now and say I’ll take over Germany for a short time. That doesn’t work and the request isn’t even there.”
He added: “If I’m supposed to do that [manage Germany] at some point, then I have to be available and I’m not currently. I have a responsibility towards the club. Basically, it’s an interesting job.
“But I don’t know yet whether I’ll do something completely different after I leave Liverpool. I want to keep my options open.”
However, the German FA have now announced an extension to Julian Nagelsmann’s contract that will see the 36-year-old take charge up to and until the 2026 World Cup, having previously been expected to step down after Euro 2024.
After performing a U-turn, Nagelsmann stated: “This is a decision of the heart.
“It is a great honour to be able to train the national team and work with the best players in the country. With successful, passionate performances we have the chance to inspire an entire country.
“The two wins against France and the Netherlands in March really touched me. We want to play a successful home European Championship together and I’m really looking forward to it together with my coaching team challenge of a World Cup.”
Nagelsmann had previously been linked with a return to the Bayern Munich hotseat as a replacement for Thomas Tuchel.
READ MORE: Shock Liverpool exit ‘accelerates’ as league leaders gun for pre-Euros signing
Newcastle United’s Isak, Guimaraes sale preference emerges amid Arsenal, Man City interest
According to reports, Newcastle United have made it clear who they ‘would rather’ sell this summer out of Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes.
The Magpies have been busy in the transfer market since Saudi-backed PIF completed its takeover of the Premier League side towards the end of 2021.
Eddie Howe’s side are currently being impacted by their Financial Fair Play issues and they may be forced to sell one or two pricey assets in the summer to balance the books.
Isak and Guimaraes are among Newcastle’s PIF-era standout signings and they could make sizeable profits if they opt to sell either player in the summer.
Sweden international Isak has been in superb form for Newcastle this term as he’s scored 17 goals in his 24 Premier League appearances. Guimaraes has also become a fan favourite at St James’ Park after they beat Arsenal in the race to sign him during the 2022 January transfer window.
Isak or Guimaraes: Who should Newcastle United sell?
According to a report from 90min, ‘Newcastle need to bring in £30-50m to stay within the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR), but more funds will be necessary if they are to also strengthen their squad.’
Out of the two players, it is claimed that Newcastle ‘would rather sell’ Guimaraes than Isak amid ‘interest from Arsenal in both and with City eyeing the midfielder’,
READ MORE: Premier League sack race… Ten Hag back in top spot but everyone seems safe for now
Regarding the reasoning behind this verdict and Guimaraes’ ‘verbal agreement’ with Newcastle, the report explains.
‘Newcastle are adamant Isak is not for sale, and it is unlikely the sporting director who replaces Dan Ashworth, who is expected to join Manchester United, will advise differently.
’24-year-old Isak has 17 Premier League goals so far this season and is viewed as integral not just to Eddie Howe’s squad, but the club’s project as a whole. Replacing him would also prove costly, with no guarantees of filling the goals void, making a sale ill-advised.
‘Newcastle would naturally love to keep Guimaraes as well, but if the Brazilian’s £100m release clause is triggered, it will take the situation out of their control.
‘When Guimaraes signed his new five-year contract at St James’ Park, a release clause was included, which is quite rare for Newcastle. But 90min understands there is also a verbal agreement in place that Guimaraes will be allowed to talk to Champions League clubs, and that offers below his release clause will be engaged with providing they exceed £80m.
‘Newcastle realise it’s preferable to lose just one player, if financial needs must, rather than having to sell several names to raise the same amount, many of whom they won’t be able to readily replace.’
READ MORE: Why Liverpool, Manchester United and co are slowly turning away from obvious Premier League talentRelated video: Are Newcastle United in pole position to finish sixth in the Premier League? (Dailymotion)
