Erik ten Hag refuses to believe that Manchester United’s final home game of the season could be his Old Trafford farewell.
Ten Hag and his players will do a lap of appreciation after the match against Newcastle despite a desperate campaign that has left the Dutchman clinging to his job.
It will be the final Old Trafford appearance for several United stars, but Ten Hag reacted with surprise at suggestions it could be his last home match, too.
‘Goodbye for me?’ he said. ‘It’s not how I see it. It is not the way I go to start a lap of honour for the fans.’ Asked if he is still planning to be in charge next season, Ten Hag replied: ‘It’s the answer to the questions you’ve made so often. The same answer.’
Thomas Frank is among the potential replacements if United sack Ten Hag and there was fresh speculation over the Brentford manager on Tuesday.
United’s minority owners Ineos are known to admire Frank, and believe he is the kind of coach who would be content to focus on team affairs and leave the club’s new leadership group to sign players.
Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi are other names in the frame, but the absence of a standout candidate could yet work in Ten Hag’s favour, with Ineos yet to make a decision over his future.
The United boss insists he still has the support of the fans as he tries to end the season by salvaging a European place and winning the FA Cup.
‘Through good times and bad times we are together and the fans show it, so we will do a lap of honour,’ he said. ‘In the stadium, away and home, they are always backing the team and backing me. Also, when I’m in the streets, many come up to me — maybe it is just polite, but I don’t feel it like this.
‘I almost never get a negative reaction because the fans understand where we are. The fans understand this club is in a transition and the huge problems we’ve had to face, especially injuries in key areas.’
Raphael Varane became the first United player to confirm his departure after the club failed to come to an agreement with the France defender over renegotiating his £340,000-a-week contract.
Other big earners will follow as Ineos cut the wage bill, including Anthony Martial, Casemiro and Jadon Sancho. The club will also listen to offers for Marcus Rashford and Antony.
United have no wish to sell Bruno Fernandes — and insist their captain does not want to leave — but they may have to reconsider if a huge bid comes in from a top European club or Saudi Arabia.
Fernandes, who is 30 in September and earns £240,000 a week, said last month that any decision over his future would have to wait until after the Euros. ‘In all the years, he was a tremendously important player for Manchester United,’ added Ten Hag. ‘So many assists, so many goals. It’s clear he’s a very important player for us.’
Ten Hag also challenged Wayne Rooney’s claim on Sky Sports last Sunday that some United players are hiding behind injuries so they can play in the FA Cup final and Euros.
Confirming Lisandro Martinez would return to the squad against Newcastle, with Fernandes and Rashford also battling to be fit, Ten Hag said: ‘You have to see here at Carrington, the players are desperate to play.
‘I see Licha Martinez, I see Bruno who did a fitness test on Sunday to play. Rashford did everything he could do but couldn’t make it.
‘You also see Victor Lindelof and Rapha Varane, they are training to make themselves available for the final.’
