Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has revealed he won’t say goodbye to the club fans after their final game of the season against Newcastle United on Wednesday night. The Dutchman said they would take a lap of honor to give their gratitude to the fans.
However, he isn’t ready to bid adieu despite a lack of clarity on his future and a horrid season for the team. United is in eighth place in the Premier League standings with a total of 54 points after playing 36 matches.
“Goodbye? For me? It’s not how I feel it and how I see it,” Ten Hag told a news conference on Tuesday.
“It’s not the way I go to start that lap of honour for the fans, no. Through good times and bad times we are together and the fans show it; that we are together. So we will do a lap of honour.”
New United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is yet to make a public statement on Ten Hag’s future. However, Ten Hag is optimistic about retaining his job at Old Trafford.
“Actually yeah,” 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, many come 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 fans understand the huge problems we’ve had to face and especially positions in key areas.”
Manchester United will have a chance to finish the season strongly as they will take on derby rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25 but they will certainly have their work cut out against a potent Pep Guardiola’s team.
