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Manchester United may face competition from Manchester City in the race to sign an in-form manager that may just be a fitting replacement for Erik ten Hag.
On Wednesday night, Man United had to come from behind twice to defeat Sheffield United 4-2. This kind of struggle could be seen as embarrassing for United given that their opponents are at the foot of the Premier League table.
Before the Sheffield United match, United defeated EFL Championship side Coventry 4-2 on penalties to book their place in the FA Cup final. While United had a comfortable 3-0 lead, they capitulated in the final 20 minutes of regular time, allowing Coventry to draw level and send the match into extra time and penalties.
While these recent results are indeed frustrating for United, they certainly aren’t anything new at Old Trafford given the tumultuous season that the club has experienced.
United find themselves sixth in the Premier League after 33 matches, with practically no way of finishing inside the top four and securing UEFA Champions League football next season. They also finished bottom of their Champions League group during the current campaign, a result that becomes even more disappointing given the lower calibre of their opponents such as Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen.
The media has hit out at Ten Hag repeatedly for his underperformance, with the Dutch coach aggressively defending himself amid criticism following the Coventry match.
It has since been reported that Ten Hag may face a 25% pay cut next season should he hold onto his current job.
Still, there is no guarantee that Ten Hag will remain at the helm next season, particularly if reports regarding other managerial candidates are to be believed.
Fichajes believes that United are interested in Girona manager Míchel Sánchez as a potential replacement for Ten Hag.
He has proven to be an effective manager for the Spanish minnows, unexpectedly leading them into third place in La Liga and putting in a courageous title challenge.
However, even if United decide on Sánchez as Ten Hag’s successor, they may face some stiff competition to acquire his services.
Manchester City are also believed to have taken an interest in the 48 year old, viewing him as a potential managerial candidate once Pep Guardiola decides to leave the club.
With the FA Cup final coming up on 25th May and United’s Premier League campaign all but over, there appears to be few opportunities remaining for Ten Hag to prove to the club that he is the manager to take United forward next season.
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