Job being decided by FA Cup semi would be crazy – Ten Hag

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag said it would be “crazy” to decide on his long-term future based on a single game.

Ten Hag was asked if the players had spared his blushes after winning an FA Cup semi-final penalty shootout win over Coventry City.

United were 3-0 up with 20 minutes to go, before Coventry made it 3-3 and nearly won it 4-3 in extra time only for VAR to rule out a goal for offside.

“That would be crazy. You need the tools to manage this, with all the injuries we don’t have so many tools, we don’t even have a back four in their best positions,” Ten Hag told reporters on his future.

“On that part I have to give the team a compliment, the players managed that, they were in a position that is not in their best. They gave 100%, which they should, but it’s not always easy to play the best football when you’re not in your best position.”

“No, I can’t see that. At the end of the day, it’s about achievement. I see the mistakes we make, but it’s not an embarrassment, it’s a huge achievement,” he added on the game.

“Given a big team from United a decade ago they achieve final three times, now it’s two times in two years, that with all the setbacks, even today, at 3-3 it’s crazy that decision.

“Then we should get a penalty to make it 4-3, that was more a handball than the penalty we conceded. That happens many times. Chelsea, two crazy pens, Liverpool, penalty very debatable. It’s like a curse against us. We’ll take energy from this, we have to build the confidence.”