ERIK TEN HAG RISKS WRATH OF SIR JIM RATCLIFFE BY GIVING HONEST OPINION ON MAN UTD'S SEASON

Erik ten Hag could be heading towards an awkward discussion with Sir Jim Ratcliffe after claiming Manchester United have 'overachieved' this season.

The Red Devils have endured a dreadful second season under Ten Hag's management. They are all but out of the race for the top four, were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the fourth round and finished rock bottom of their Champions League group.

United have reached the final of the FA Cup, though they only squeezed past Coventry on penalties after throwing away a three goal lead against the Championship side. But Ten Hag has remarkably claimed that his side have actually overachieved this season.

“I would say it’s over, over-performing with all the problems we have had. Getting into the final is already a big achievement, but we are here for trophies. We have an opportunity to win a trophy and that is good," he said.

"But we are not satisfied by being in the final, we want to win it and that is what we will go for and it’s our mentality. That is why we are successful. That’s why I am successful over 10 years as a manager, I always bring out the maximum of each squad.

"In top football, it is about results and we made it to the final and we deserved it. Not only by this game but also the other games and we lost, in 20 minutes, control. Then also we had bad luck, 3-2, 3-3. We were very lucky in the end, [that is] clear.

"Penalties was very good and we made it to the final and that is a huge achievement. Twice in two years is magnificent. For me as a manager, four cup finals in four years. So the comments [from the media] are a disgrace."

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Those comments will not go down well with Ratcliffe though, with the billionaire now in control of football matters at Old Trafford. Upon the completion of his deal for a minority stake in the club, Ratcliffe revealed his plan to bring in a 'winning mentality'.

“Fundamentally, you want to see your club being where it should be. It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. It should be playing the best football in the world and it hasn’t been doing that for 10 or 11 years. So it’s certainly related to the decision,” he said in February.

"You need to create this environment which is driven and competitive. It is going to be intense at times, but equally it needs to have warmth and friendliness and be a supportive structure because the two things marry together well.

“The ultimate target for Manchester United — and it’s always going to be thus, really — is that we should be challenging for the Premier League and challenging for the Champions League. It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"There are six who are probably the six biggest clubs in Europe: three in the north west (of England), two in Spain and one in Germany. United should be in that small group. It hasn’t been for a while. And so, therefore, it must be challenging for the Premier League. And if we’re not, then in a way, we’re not doing what we saying we ought to do."

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2024-04-24T07:33:52Z dg43tfdfdgfd