Dwight Yorke has called on Manchester United to reward Erik ten Hag a third year as manager if they beat Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup final. The treble-winning striker sees himself as a future “big-time” coach and insists he would want to be treated the same if he won two major trophies in as many seasons.
Ten Hag oversaw a successful first season as United boss, finishing third in the Premier League and ending the club’s six-year trophy drought by lifting the Carabao Cup.
His second campaign at the helm has been disastrous, but he will add more silverware to the trophy cabinet with a shock win against City at Wembley.
And Yorke would want United’s new co-owners INEOS to give Ten Hag the chance to enter the final year of his contract if he does so.
“Listen, I’m a future big-time manager in the making,” Yorke told Express Sport on behalf of Crypto Casino.
“If I were to come in at any club and win two trophies back-to-back in both years, I’ve got to think I’ve saved my job somewhere along the line because no manager has been able to do that [since Sir Alex Ferguson].
“So, having my manager head on, from that standpoint, I would say he needs to stay.”
He added: “I think you’ve got to be fair. But if he were to win the FA Cup, I like to be fair because I like to be treated fairly as well. If I win two trophies in two years, fair enough.”
However, Yorke admits that it would be no surprise if Ten Hag is sent his marching orders at the end of the season for four damaging reasons.
He continued: “Looking at this season in terms of the style of play, getting knocked out of the Champions League, conceding loads, losing 19 games, and of course, being the lowest scorer in the [top half of] the Premier League…
“Those are serious factors that you think, wow, that’s a lot in there. That, for me, is where the problem lies.
“So if he doesn’t win the FA Cup, those are the things he’ll get the sack for. That’s a lot. Managers don’t survive that, not at Man United’s level.
Speculation about Ten Hag’s potential successor has been rife in recent weeks, with several high-profile coaches linked with a move to Old Trafford.
But Yorke has suggested that the lack of convincing options works in Ten Hag’s favour. “If he wins the cup, from a manager’s standpoint, he would deserve [to stay],” the 52-year-old explained.
“Then you look at who’s out there to replace him, which is a problem. Man United is an elite football club that needs an elite manager.
“These managers being linked, apart from Zidane, are good managers but not coming in and doing an elite job. They’re coming in and doing an okay job. But okay isn’t good enough for United.”
