Pep Guardiola once branded Erik ten Hag an "extraordinary" manager as Manchester United secured last year's FA Cup, but the Dutchman wasn't able to build on that success and was eventually axed
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Minority Shareholder of Manchester United, looks on from the stands prior to the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 25, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Sir Jim Ratcliffe joined Manchester United in February 2024 and sacked Erin ten Hag just months later
(Image: Getty Images)
Sir Jim Ratcliffe had an "extraordinary" manager in Erik ten Hag, according to Pep Guardiola, but that didn't stop the Manchester United co-owner from giving him his marching orders last year.
Ten Hag oversaw United's famous 2-1 win over rivals Manchester City in the final of the 2024 FA Cup, with goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo cancelling out Jeremy Doku's late strike. Impressed by United's tactical masterclass, which saw them overcome what was thought to be an untouchable City side, Guardiola was quick to sing Ten Hag's praises.
Speaking after the defeat, Guardiola said: "He's a lovely person and an extraordinary manager. Winning the FA Cup is important for them like last season it was for us."
However, the Red Devils' FA Cup win was the sole standout of an otherwise dismal season under Ten Hag's management. United finished a record-low eighth in the Premier League in 2023/24, with just 18 wins from a total of 38 matches, while the side were dumped out of the League Cup by Newcastle in the fourth round.
As for the Champions League, Ten Hag's men failed to make it out of the group stage, finishing rock bottom behind Bayern Munich, Copenhagen, and Galatasaray, after registering just a single victory in six games. Despite questions looming over Ten Hag's future heading into the summer break last year, minority shareholder Ratcliffe and the United board ultimately decided to instil faith in the manager, denying a repeat of Louis van Gaal's sacking just days after he won the FA Cup in 2016.
Ten Hag was awarded a contract extension until July 2026, while he received a sizeable transfer kitty to bolster his squad ahead of 2024/25. Despite spending almost £200million on the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro, and Noussair Mazraoui, Ten Hag struggled to turn the tide as 2024/25 got underway.
The 55-year-old managed just three wins from the opening nine games of the season before he was let go following a 2-1 loss to West Ham United in October. Despite Guardiola's high praise, Ratcliffe clearly felt that Ten Hag wasn't the man to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford - and he even later admitted it was a mistake to let him keep his job after the FA Cup triumph.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag (left) and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (right) on the touchline during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Erik ten Hag received praise from Pep Guardiola(Image: PA)
Ruben Amorim was appointed manager of the club the following month, with fans in the northwest expecting big things from the highly decorated former Sporting CP tactician. However, it is argued that the 49-year-old Portuguese mastermind has fared worse than Ten Hag did in his final season.
The club are destined for yet another record-low finish as 2024/25 comes to a close, as well as failing to make it past the fifth round of the FA Cup and the quarter-finals of the League Cup. However, Amorim could still clinch the Europa League title, as the Red Devils are set to face Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the European competition on Wednesday.
Not only would a win remarkably brighten the side's 2024/25 overall, but it would also grant them qualification to the Champions League next season. However, further investment from the board will be needed, with Amorim still struggling to mould his inherited squad from Ten Hag to suit his style of play and United miles off their rivals.
Guardiola, meanwhile, is vying to right the wrongs from last year and win Manchester City an eighth FA Cup on Saturday afternoon, with The Cityzens squaring off against Crystal Palace at Wembley. If successful, it would be the third time that Guardiola has guided the side to the trophy, and it would be his 19th trophy with the side in total, including Premier Leagues, domestic and European titles, Super Cups, and Club World Cups.
On the flip side, a Palace win would mark the first time that the London outfit has tasted glory in the tournament. The Eagles have famously made it to the final of the tournament twice before, missing out to Manchester United in 1990 and 2016, respectively.