Erik ten Hag will go straight on holiday after the FA Cup final – with his Manchester United future still up in the air.
Ten Hag has already held his end-of-season review with United chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team, who will ultimately decide whether to keep him or sack him.
But Ten Hag is not hanging about to learn his fate and revealed he will jet off for a summer break tomorrow, having already stated his case to remain in charge at United.
Asked if he had talks planned with Ratcliffe and his team, Ten Hag said: “No, we already did and on Sunday I will go on holiday. I think I deserve it.”
Pushed on whether he had been given assurances he would remain in charge at United next season, Ten Hag said: “It's not necessary, we will go for next season.”
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Ten Hag took United to third place in his first season and ended the club's six-year wait for a trophy with the League Cup. But this season, a succession of injuries to key players have seen United regress, with eighth place their worst-ever Premier League finish.
Despite that, Ten Hag defended his two-year record at United and said: “Three finals in two seasons is very good, I would say, because this club, when I entered it, was not in a good state, absolutely not.
“I think we improved a lot and, even when you consider all the injuries we’ve had, it’s been a horrible season for us. Absolutely, that has to change, and we have to make our messages this summer to change this.
Man Utd minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his football executive team will decide Ten Hag's fate (PA Wire/PA Images)“This club didn’t win many trophies in the last 10 years, so now we have the second opportunity in two years to win another trophy.
“This club is in a transitional period and we have progressed many players to high levels. Some young players came into the team and became internationals and will go to the Copa America and the Euros, which is very good.
“We want to improve the squad, we want to create a team for the future, but in the meantime we want to win trophies. On Saturday, we have a big opportunity to win another trophy and a third final in two years, I would say, is not too bad.”
Asked if people overlooked the progress made at United when judging him on the basis of this season, Ten Hag said: “I'm sure that many forget this, yes, absolutely.
Erik ten Hag's Manchester United were beaten by Manchester City in last year's FA Cup final (Getty Images)“We can definitely compete for the top four, but the competition of the Premier League means there are many teams in this moment that battle for the top four, but we are definitely in there.
“We would have been there this season, if players had been available. That's the biggest thing that has to change - that the players are, over the course of the season, available.”
Ten Hag acknowledged City's brilliance and said: “I can admire what they've done in the last 10 years. They constructed a very good club, but for the fans of United, they don’t look at this. It’s a rivalry and we have to get up to those levels. We want to be the best and that's our target.”
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