- Erik ten Hag has one month to save his job at Old Trafford
- United beat Coventry on penalties to reach the FA Cup final
- Coventry’s epic comeback is what the FA Cup is all about; we don’t need to change it. Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off Podcast
Manchester United have privately accepted that replacing Erik ten Hag at the end of the season would carry some risk, particularly in the absence of a leading candidate.
The Dutchman avoided humiliation when his side beat Coventry 4-2 on penalties in the FA Cup semi-finals after the Championship side came back from 3-0 down to force extra time.
But while Ten Hag has led his team to a third final in two seasons, his future hangs in the balance after Sunday’s near-fatal collapse against Mark Robins’ men.
Last season, United won their first trophy in six years by beating Newcastle in the League Cup final and finishing third in the Premier League, but lost to Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
They will face their city rivals in the final at Wembley next month, but their league form has deteriorated dramatically and they sit seventh in the table, 16 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Erik ten Hag’s job is at stake after a dismal second season at Manchester United
Thomas Tuchel really wants to return to the Premier League next season
Gareth Southgate (left) and Graham Potter (right) have been linked with United.
According The TelegraphTen Hag has a month to save his job and new technical director Jason Wilcox is tasked with carrying out an audit of his credentials over the next month.
However, United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team, which is now in charge of football operations at Old Trafford, fear there is no obvious candidate to replace Ten Hag.
United reportedly harbor reservations over whether Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter, both linked with United, would have credibility within the dressing room.
Potter emerged as one of the Premier League’s brightest managers with Brighton, but his spell at Chelsea lasted just seven months.
Southgate, meanwhile, has turned England into a contender on the international stage, but the last time he managed a club was 15 years ago, when he was sacked by Middlesbrough.
Thomas Tuchel will be available as he leaves Bayern Munich at the end of the season and has openly expressed his desire to return to coaching in England.
While the German is a proven winner and could lift the Champions League for the second time in four seasons next month, his abrasive personality is cited as a cause for concern.
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim is also on United’s radar, despite being linked with Liverpool and West Ham.
Bologna manager Thiago Motta (left) and Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi (right) are said to be greatly admired by the United hierarchy.
United have also been impressed with the likes of Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, Thiago Motta and Michel, who have put Bologna and Girona on course for Champions League qualification after outstanding seasons in Serie A and LaLiga.
According to The Telegraph, however, doubts remain over whether any of the three would have the personality to handle the pressure of a club the size of United, particularly ahead of what is expected to be a summer of radical changes on and off the field.
Since Ratcliffe completed his minority takeover, United have wasted no time in overhauling their football operations in a bid to close the gap on Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Wilcox left his position as director of football at Southampton last week to take up the role of technical director at Old Trafford with immediate effect.
His appointment was promoted by Omar Berrada, with whom he worked during his time as City’s academic director.
Berrada left City earlier this season and will formally begin his role as United’s new chief executive in July, with Dan Ashworth set to join the club as sporting director once financial compensation is agreed with Newcastle.
