Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 26d

Ten Hag won't say 'goodbye' to Man United fans in final game

Erik ten Hag has said he will not say goodbye to the Manchester United fans after their last home game of the season despite continued uncertainty surrounding his position as manager.

Ten Hag confirmed players and staff will take part in a lap of appreciation following Newcastle United's visit to Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) 

But the Dutchman insisted it will not be his farewell, despite a lack of clarity about whether he will stay at the club beyond the summer.

"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 with a decision set to be made after the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25.

Ten Hag has overseen a disastrous season, which is on course to be United's worst ever Premier League finish, but the 54-year-old said he still has the backing of the majority of supporters.

"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."

^ Back to Top ^