Before his dismissal, Erik ten Hag delivered a final rallying call to his Manchester United squad, urging them to refocus on winning the Carabao Cup in their upcoming match against Leicester.
Manchester United confirmed his departure following a 2-1 loss to West Ham, which left them in 14th place in the Premier League.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has stepped in as interim manager and will lead the team against Leicester, as the club searches for Ten Hag’s permanent successor.
During his tenure, Ten Hag brought home Carabao Cup and FA Cup titles, emphasizing the importance of silverware to both fans and the club’s legacy.
Despite a difficult season in the Premier League and Europa League, Ten Hag encouraged his players to fight for success in the Carabao Cup.
He believed that another trophy would turn the season around, encouraging the team to use their setbacks as motivation to bounce back stronger.
Reflecting on the significance of trophies, Ten Hag stated, “It’s about trophies. I don’t want to get into this debate again, but the truth is that there are not many trophies to win. Winning any trophy in top football is what matters most.
“It’s what the fans expect and what we expect. We’ve had five opportunities this season—one we missed with the Community Shield. But four remain.”
He acknowledged United’s challenging start to the season but remained confident, adding, “Our league position doesn’t reflect our performance and potential. It’s been difficult with the setbacks, but we need to fight back, and confidence will grow.
“Now, we must find the motivation to fuel our comeback from disappointments.”
Under Ten Hag, United endured 10 losses by margins of three or more goals across all competitions, a record higher than any previous manager since Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ruben Amorim, the current Sporting manager, is reportedly the favorite to succeed Ten Hag, with United aiming to appoint him in time for Sunday’s Premier League match against Chelsea at Old Trafford.
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