Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag finally enjoyed a rare bright spot in an otherwise dismal season as his team edged out Newcastle United 3-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
As speculation continues to swirl around the Dutchman’s future, this Premier League victory was only United’s third in nearly three months.
The win was secured thanks to goals from promising youngsters Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo, and Rasmus Højlund.
Crucially, Ten Hag was also able to welcome back key players like Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, and Lisandro Martínez from injury layoffs.
With just one game left, this result keeps Manchester United’s fading hopes of qualifying for Europe through a top-seven Premier League finish mathematically alive.
It also provides a glimmer of optimism that an FA Cup final against Manchester City later this month could potentially salvage something positive from this hugely disappointing campaign.
However, Ten Hag’s long-term fate likely hinges on the looming decision from the club’s prospective new investors, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, who are conducting the final stages of their takeover bid.
In his post-match press conference, a relieved Ten Hag said: “It’s a victory, and I was pleased with the team’s performance.
Newcastle is very physical, but we also played good football and scored excellent goals, especially the first – a nice team goal. Getting some players back has boosted our squad depth.”
Thanks to Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Brighton, United can now only realistically finish as high as 7th in the Premier League standings – which would still represent their worst finish in the Premier League era.
However, they did manage to avoid an unwanted record of 10 home league defeats this season.
After such a torrid campaign that has left Ten Hag embattled, he will gladly take any small positives he can get at this point. But even in victory, nagging questions remain about some of his tactics and player selections.
A key one being – why has the talented 21-year-old Ivorian winger Amad Diallo been so underutilized?
The youngster, who scored a stunning FA Cup winner against Liverpool in March, had to wait two more months for his first Premier League start against Arsenal last weekend.
Retaining his place against Newcastle, Diallo rewarded his manager’s faith with an assist for Mainoo’s opener and then a ferocious strike for United’s third goal. His impactful display had supporters singing his name midway through the second half.
“Amad has had a difficult season due to injury, but he’s fought back, trained well, and has now taken his opportunity – that’s how it should work with internal competition,” explained Ten Hag.
The Dutchman has faced criticism for persisting with the underperforming £85 million signing of Antony too often.
But with the Brazilian left on the bench, Diallo’s lively showing may have already booked him a starting spot for the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 25th.
We’re on the march with Ten Hag’s army chants followed the volleys of “Amad Diallo” as they echoed throughout Old Trafford.
The majority of fans remain undecided on whether he should continue next season – as does the club’s hierarchy, who will likely delay a final verdict until after the cup final.
In a show of appreciation, Ten Hag delivered a brief on-pitch speech after the final whistle, promising the fans. “These players will do everything to win the cup.” He then completed a lap of honor amid applause from the supporters who remained.
“For the fans, it’s been a very difficult season. We’re pleased with their attitude and support,” Ten Hag said later.
He will indeed be grateful for that backing. Whether it ultimately sways, prospective new owner Ratcliffe remains to be seen.
There is certainly a compelling argument for sacking Ten Hag after such a dire campaign. But with crucial games still to play, he retains an opportunity to potentially change the narrative.
“I don’t talk about being proud after the season so far – we’re all disappointed. But we can still win something,” Ten Hag stated.
While one narrow league win over Newcastle is unlikely to convince everyone, beating City in the FA Cup final could go a long way toward regaining credibility for Ten Hag. At the very least, his team has given themselves a chance to end this forgettable season on a high note.
The Information is Taken from AP News and ESPN
