Lifting the FA Cup trophy won't be enough to save Erik ten Hag from getting the boot at Manchester United.
That's according to Scottish football legend Ally McCoist, who reckons a change of guard at Old Trafford is inevitable this summer. The Red Devils are considered underdogs as they head into their Wembley showdown against arch-rivals Manchester City, who have just been crowned Premier League champions for the fourth consecutive season while United finished eighth.
All signs suggest a potential landslide victory for Pep Guardiola's squad, who have triumphed in six out of the last seven Manchester derbies. However, even if Ten Hag and his team manage to defy the odds, it may not be enough to persuade United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to retain the Dutchman.
"I don't even think a win in the FA Cup final will be enough for Erik ten Hag," former Rangers boss McCoist told talkSPORT BET (via the Manchester Evening News). "I just think in 99% of cases, new people will want to bring their own men in. I understand people saying that they think INEOS will come in and want to give everyone a clean slate, but I just feel the new owners will want their own manager in.
"I know the buck stops with the manager, but the players really do need to take some responsibility as well for some of the performances throughout the season. I think there will be massive changes at United among the playing staff, and I reckon no matter what happens on Saturday, the manager will be changed too."
Former Ajax mastermind Ten Hag, who took over at United in the summer of 2022, has managed to win 67 of 113 games (59%) in charge of United. That gives him the slightest of edges over predecessors Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (55%) and Jose Mourinho (58%), with one League Cup triumph under his belt so far.
McCoist, 61, reckons Ratcliffe should consider snapping up Mauricio Pochettino for the top job at United. The Argentinian coach was recently given the boot by Chelsea, sparking rumours he could be headed for Old Trafford, a position he's been linked with in the past.
The Ibrox icon continued: "I could actually see Mauricio Pochettino going to Manchester United." He went on to highlight Pochettino's knack for nurturing young talent, adding that trait "would benefit a lot of the young talent coming through the ranks" at Old Trafford.
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"Both United and Chelsea just haven't got it right in recent years and there needs to be massive changes in the playing squad at Old Trafford as well I just don't think a lot of the squad are up to the task," said McCoist. "That's going to take the best part of 18 months to two years to solve there's no quick fix."
