In his memoirs, Alex Ferguson confessed to wagering on Manchester United to secure the FA Cup victory on the day of the acclaimed third-round match against Nottingham Forest in January 1990, with odds placed at 16/1.
Fast forward to the present, gambling advertisements are plastered everywhere in a manner that would have been frowned upon back in 1990. If a manager were to repeat what Ferguson once did, they risk a long-term exclusion from football. Now a retired football luminary, Ferguson presumably doesn’t fall within the parameters of rules that prevent football insiders from placing bets on football games. The 9/1 odds for United prevailing over Manchester City in the approaching FA Cup final would have certainly aroused his interest.
It’s astonishing to note how close the odds were for United winning the upcoming final which they had already qualified for, compared to their odds at the beginning of the 1990 competition.
United’s victory formula was to resolutely defend and rapidly counter-attack. Under the management of José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Erik ten Hag, this strategy has earned United eight victories throughout Guardiola’s tenure.
Certainly, United aren’t the sole team employing this strategy against City. However, United possesses the advantage of having a high-calibre attacker such as Bruno Fernandes. Having Bruno as the linchpin of their offence ensures they always have a fighting chance. His cleverly devised pass that outwitted City’s defence for Kobbie Mainoo’s winning goal was a momentous highlight at Wembley, echoing Teddy Sheringham’s assist to Alan Shearer against the Netherlands in Euro 1996.
Erik ten Hag, proudly lifting the trophy towards the United supporters, offered a stark contrast to the scene ten days prior at Old Trafford. Following United’s last home game of the season, parts of the crowd responded with jeers as he took to the field to address the audience. Loyal fans countered the jeers with applause, expressing displeasure about criticising one’s own manager. The division was evident.
Finally, a recent Guardian report surfaced on Friday – trailed closely by most of the sports media on Saturday – that regardless of the outcome in the Cup final, United had resolved to relieve their manager of his duties.
While it initially seemed that Ten Hag was facing a grim scenario, it unexpectedly became a blessing in disguise. Who wouldn’t empathise with a coach under such circumstances? The previous uncertainty and discord amongst United’s fans transformed into a wave of support for their coach, rallying against the deceptive press.
A barrage of queries regarding Ten Hag’s future dominated his post-match interviews, greatly vexing many supporters. Adopting a combative tone, he asserted that he will move on to achieve victory elsewhere if United disavow him. YouTube comments under his press conference lambasted the media for its inappropriate conduct, hurling insults such as “appalling”, “outrageous” and “low-lifes”.
When a journalist implied that the team’s eighth position with a negative goal difference was pitiable, Ten Hag retorted: “Regrettably, you’re deficient in football knowledge and in understanding how to manage a football team.” This comment was a hit amongst the fans who appreciate their coach’s disdain for the media. Notable moments include Louis van Gaal’s infamous labeling of a journalist as a “big man” and Ferguson’s notorious censure of his critics. Future United managers should take this into account when dealing with the press.
Earlier that week, Ten Hag expressed his discontentment to Voetbal International, a Dutch magazine. He criticised the unfounded pessimism of self-proclaimed experts who prioritise personal aggrandisement over factual evaluation.
However, the uncomfortable truth is that this year has been Manchester United’s most egregious performance in the Premier League’s history. This season marked the most goals conceded, their worst record since the 1970/71 season. Although not the least productive in terms of scoring, it comes in as third worst, a significant failure given this has been the highest scoring season for top-flight football in 60 years. This lackluster showing culminated in 14 league losses, an all-time low in the Premier League era.
The report on the run-up to the finale provided by BBC includes a notable statistic that highlights Manchester United’s underperformance this season – their average of 17.6 shots conceded per game positions them at 95th place out of 96 top-tier teams across the Continent. The only squad that performed worse was Sheffield United.
Erik ten Hag, the coach, seeks shelter behind the excuse of injuries. His sentiment is that the team cannot deliver results without the availability of key players, a line of thinking that contrasts with Alex Ferguson’s approach. In 1990, despite many important team members, including Webb, Robson, Ince, Donaghy, Wallace, Sharpe, and key full-back Colin Gibson, being sidelined due to injuries, Ferguson never chased similar excuses.
Moreover, ten Hag’s justification might not hold much water. Football success cannot be solely contributed to the fitness and availability of the best players. If so, what value does the manager bring? Surely, Lisandro Martinez’s absence this season was felt by United, but they look forward to utilising him in the upcoming season, regardless of ten Hag’s presence.
Interestingly, one prominent figure related to United refrained from celebrating ten Hag’s achievements. Jim Ratcliffe’s congratulatory message to the team notably excluded ten Hag’s name. Additionally, United didn’t dispel rumours of ten Hag’s possible exit.
Now, the position of the manager is deemed as “under review”, leaving Ratcliffe with a delicate choice. He can risk being perceived as the villain by dismissing a coach who has just experienced a high point in his career. Alternatively, he can choose to continue backing Ten Hag, whose oversight led one of the world’s priciest squads to one of their poorest seasons in recent years. Ultimately, the choice may not be as challenging as it seems.