Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag blasts pundits, fans and 'c**p season' ahead of Man City FA Cup final clash

Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag blasts pundits, fans and 'c**p season' ahead of Man City FA Cup final clash

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Man Utd and Man City prepare to meet in FA Cup final

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 25/05/2024

- 10:05

The Red Devils will be hoping to win today's final at Wembley

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has pulled no punches ahead of today's FA Cup final clash with Manchester City at Wembley.

Few are giving the Red Devils a chance of glory, with the fallen giants recently finishing eighth in the Premier League table.


They are up against a City side that won the treble last term, with Pep Guardiola's side also making history by winning their fourth league crown in a row.

Talk of Ten Hag potentially being sacked has ramped up prior to today's clash, with the likes of Kieran McKenna, Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel all being talked up as potential replacements.

Man Utd news Erik ten Hag

Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag has taken aim at fans and pundits ahead of today's FA Cup final clash with Man City at Wembley

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But the 52-year-old has come out swinging in an interview with Dutch media.

Ten Hag told journalist Freek Jansen that the expectations of supporters were too high, insisting United are 'not ready' to compete at the top.

"Manchester United won the league for the last time in 2013, 11 years ago," said the 54-year-old.

"But still they expect us to win every game while competing at the top.

"This club is not ready for that.

"We were supposed to start building something and we made the first steps last year, but then you find out how big this club is and that nobody is ever satisfied.

"Within the club people were satisfied, but outside the club there was noise by saying I won only the Carabao Cup, lost the FA Cup Final and became 3rd."

Many United legends currently work in punditry.

Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, who all won trophies at Old Trafford while playing under Sir Alex Ferguson, work for various broadcasters.

The quartet, along with others such as Michael Owen and Owen Hargreaves, haven't been afraid to stick the knife into the Red Devils.

Yet Ten Hag believes their criticism isn't justified, with the Dutchman expressing a belief his team are 'easy prey'.

"The pundits in England want to score, they want to show they are worth the money, and for that Manchester United is an easy prey," he said.

"It’s the biggest club in England and possibly in the world.

"The club is either loved or hated, there is no in-between.

"So when things go bad, they all start talking and talking with very big words.

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Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag has blasted pundits such as Roy Keane and Gary Neville ahead of today's FA Cup final with Man City

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"All this negativity from these so called experts who don’t have the capability to analyse something with facts, but who prefer to attack people to make themselves look better.

"And these same people were the ones who gave me a pat on the back last year.

"Last year I was able to walk on water, this year I am the worst manager in the Premier League."

On the whole, it's been a horrendous season for United.

As well as toiling in the Premier League they were awful in the Champions League, falling out of the competition in the group stages.

Man Utd Erik ten Hag

Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag had some strong words prior to today's FA Cup final clash with Man City

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They also provided a meek defence of their Carabao Cup trophy, with Newcastle dumping them out of the tournament in October.

Ten Hag insists a 'c**p' season can end on a positive note, however, with the Dutchman eager to win his second trophy in English football.

"Let me be clear. It has been bad. It has been c**p," he admitted.

"But despite everything,, we are going to play an FA Cup final."

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