Erik ten Hag claims he’s been able to pick his best team ONCE in 18 months as Man United boss says critics of his side are ‘unrealistic’ ahead of FA Cup semi-final against Coventry

For Sir Alex Ferguson, FA Cup glory was the springboard for success. Other Manchester United managers found winning the competition signalled their demise.

Tommy Docherty was sacked when lifting the Cup was considered no defence for having an affair with the wife of his club physio. Ron Atkinson lost his job the year after Wembley glory because he was no closer to ending United’s long wait to be champions.

Most alarmingly for Erik ten Hag, compatriot Louis van Gaal learned his fate just minutes after his United team beat Crystal Palace in 2016. His ‘crime‘ had been to fail to qualify for the Champions League – something that will haunt his fellow Dutchman, whose side are 13 points behind fourth-place Aston Villa.

Publicly, Ten Hag insists he’ll be at Old Trafford next season, just as Van Gaal had done up to the point he was replaced by Jose Mourinho. But in the build-up to facing Coventry City in Sunday’s semi-final, Ten Hag unwittingly outlined why his future is in such jeopardy.

‘I know why I am here. To bring trophies, also to create economic value,’ he said.

Erik ten Hag will look to stave off more pressure by winning the FA Cup at Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson used the FA Cup as a springboard for his success during his era at United

With United now seventh, new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be reflecting how expensive missing out on the Champions League is. In the modern world, a great day out at Wembley doesn’t alter that, even if it leads to silverware.

Ten Hag is aware his friend Van Gaal remains the last United boss to win the FA Cup. Last season was successful, with the Carabao Cup and third place, but a chronic injury list has sent United into reverse. All senior defenders bar Diogo Dalot have missed chunks of the season, most notably Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw.

‘The critics don’t concern me. What concerns me is only having a full squad to choose from once in 18 months,’ retorts Ten Hag. ‘Injuries are normal in football but not as many as we’ve had in crucial positions. That’s my truth – others can see it differently but I can’t put any energy into that. I have to see it realistically and rationally.’

The real truth is Ten Hag’s prospects are out of his hands. The Cup offers some respite. But their form is too patchy for fans to expect a big turnaround. Though United’s squad has been stricken, rivals have coped better. Liverpool won the Carabao Cup despite a dozen absentees. Manchester City are fighting for the title having been without Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne for significant periods.

Tactically, the team has looked a mess at times. No other side in Europe’s top five leagues has given up more shots. Several players, including Marcus Rashford and Casemiro have been below par, while their £72million striker Rasmus Hojlund is now seven games without a goal, matching his barren run of December.

Ten Hag has publicly insisted he will be at Old Trafford next season despite his side’s struggles

But Louis van Gaal was ruthlessly sacked just minutes after lifting the trophy at Wembley

Off the pitch, United are rebuilding in the Sir Jim era. New recruits Omar Berrada (chief executive), Dan Ashworth (sporting director) and Jason Wilcox (technical director) will form a strong executive team next season under the watchful eye of Sir Dave Brailsford.

It’d be almost strange if they didn’t want a first-team manager of their choice. Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel have strengths. A longer-term choice would be former United coach Kieran McKenna, though it’s probably one job too soon for him.

Ten Hag will hope Ratcliffe’s upbringing as a legacy United fan will persuade him of the traditional healing powers of the FA Cup. The competition gave Ferguson a valuable leg up in 1990. Almost three decades later, then chief executive Ed Woodward took a colder-eyed view in dispatching Van Gaal.

The presence of Robins at Wembley as Coventry manager is ironic. His winner at Nottingham Forest in 1990 is purported to have helped save Ferguson’s job. United finished 13th that season but winning the Cup gave the manager an extra term, and the rest is history.

‘In football it is sometimes like this. One goal off the post can make a huge difference,’ said Ten Hag. He must cling on to that hope but right now, it looks forlorn.