Pep Guardiola v Erik ten Hag – Who will come out on top in the FA Cup final?

PA Ready, Erik ten Hag, Manchester United, Jim Ratcliffe, Dutch, Premier League, Manchester City, Gareth Southgate, English, Coventry, Crystal Palace, Ineos, England, Kieran McKenna, Arsenal, West Ham, Etihad Stadium, Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter, Thomas Tuchel, Inter Milan

Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag have enjoyed very different seasons (PA Images)

The two managers preparing their teams for Saturday’s FA Cup final could scarcely be doing so under more polarised circumstances.

With Manchester City enjoying a period of success unprecedented in English football, United are weathering a storm so fierce it may not subside even if they upset the odds and beat their rivals at Wembley.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the contrasting situations of the managers.

Erik ten Hag

Following one of the club’s worst league seasons in a generation it could be that the writing is already on the wall for Ten Hag after two years in the job, as new minority owners Ineos consider how best to take the club forward.

Four victories in the final 13 games of the Premier League season, a run that included a calamitous 4-0 humbling by Crystal Palace early in May, was an indicator that progress under their Dutch coach has stalled, whilst even the manner in which they reached Saturday’s final – throwing away a 3-0 semi-final lead against Championship side Coventry and requiring penalties to edge through – drew harsh criticism.

Ten Hag called the hostile media reception to the semi-final win “embarrassing”, but the assessment of United’s performance against the Sky Blues was a snapshot of a campaign in which they have consistently been accused of failing to exercise control over games.

There would be no shortage of candidates should Sir Jim Ratcliffe decide upon a change, with Mauricio Pochettino – who was considered for the job in 2022 before the appointment of Ten Hag – the latest name to become available following his departure from Chelsea. Former Blues bosses Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter as well as England manager Gareth Southgate have also been linked, as has Kieran McKenna of Ipswich.

Ultimately the decision could come down to how much of United’s demise is deemed to be on Ten Hag’s shoulders and how much is the product of more structural problems outside of the manager’s control.

Pep Guardiola

The City boss admitted he will be “closer to leaving than staying” at the Etihad Stadium after next season, following his team’s record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title.

Speaking after the 3-1 win over West Ham that sealed the title by a two-point margin from Arsenal, Guardiola said: “My feeling is that I want to stay now. I will stay next season and during the season we will talk. But eight or nine years – we will see.”

The 53-year-old also acknowledged he had considered leaving after last season’s Treble success, indicating he felt there was little else left to achieve in the aftermath of the 1-0 win over Inter Milan that won them the Champions League.

That feeling may yet return should City become the first English club to achieve back-to-back league and cup doubles on Saturday, particularly if it turns out to be a precursor to an unprecedented fifth title in a row next term.

OTHER NEWS

36 minutes ago

American comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld is all smiles as he greets fans while exploring Perth ahead of Australian stand-up comedy tour

38 minutes ago

No Messi, no problem! Inter Miami have to cope without absent star and have two men sent off... but STILL manage to score a last-minute winner to beat MLS rivals Philadelphia Union

38 minutes ago

Murdered mom-of-five's boyfriend breaks his silence after ILLEGAL migrant was finally charged with raping and killing her - as cops reveal stunning breakthrough on her birthday and offer stern message to Joe Biden

38 minutes ago

Serial celeb harasser 'Crackhead Barney' calls Quentin Tarantino a 'Zionist piece of s***' after troll previously screamed at Alec Baldwin

38 minutes ago

Madonna, 65, tries to keep a low-profile in NYC in all-black outfit after her lawyers SLAMMED concert delay lawsuit as a 'harassment campaign' from fans

39 minutes ago

Bryson DeChambeau takes control of US Open with glorious 67 as Rory McIlroy rues late bogeys

39 minutes ago

Kariega cemeteries severely damaged by floods

39 minutes ago

Labour candidate cancels local hustings due to ‘constant trolling’

40 minutes ago

Alexander-Arnold can be special in England’s midfield, insists Southgate

40 minutes ago

Everything You Need to Know About the 6th House in Astrology

40 minutes ago

RBA likely to hold rates as price pressures loiter

43 minutes ago

The city Aussies are fleeing in droves - and the new location they are calling home

45 minutes ago

Southgate and Kane look ahead to Serbia match

45 minutes ago

Brian Masaba on Uganda's 9-wicket hammering by New Zealand

45 minutes ago

He once rode in the Titan submersible but didn't realize how close he came to death until a year after its fatal dive

45 minutes ago

Johns backs Moses-Walker pairing to level Origin series

45 minutes ago

The Requiem For Methuselah Scene Star Trek's DeForest Kelley Refused To Film

45 minutes ago

Should There Be A Cause For Concern Following Boston's 38 Point Loss?

46 minutes ago

Israeli military announces “tactical pause” in southern Gaza to allow deliveries of humanitarian aid

46 minutes ago

Israeli military announces 'tactical pause' in attempt to increase flow of aid into hard-hit Gaza

46 minutes ago

Taoiseach Simon Harris offers support to Rhasidat Adeleke over online abuse

46 minutes ago

5 Seconds of Summer singer Luke Hemmings rocks the stage as he plays his first ever solo show in his hometown Sydney

49 minutes ago

Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto leaves start vs. Kansas City after 2 innings due to triceps tightness

49 minutes ago

Environment Canada issues rainfall warnings for parts of northeastern B.C.

49 minutes ago

Andrew McCarthy Credits Molly Ringwald for Getting His Role in ‘Pretty in Pink'

49 minutes ago

Amid goading by Opposition, JD(U) backs BJP pick, TDP bats for ‘NDA face’

49 minutes ago

Residents and communities preparing for heat wave that will envelop Midwest and Northeast next week

49 minutes ago

Catherine returns as the Royal family unite at a Trooping like none before

49 minutes ago

Ukraine-US 10-year security deal: 5 key takeaways

49 minutes ago

WATCH: Browns Show Off 'Normal' Watson's 50-Yard Throw

49 minutes ago

France's Thuram urges fellow citizens 'to fight daily' to prevent far right from taking power

49 minutes ago

England keep T20 World Cup hopes alive after rain meant Scotland could have gone through instead

49 minutes ago

Games Inbox: Is the Elden Ring DLC too difficult for its own good?

49 minutes ago

Israelis take to streets of Tel Aviv to demand new elections and to protest against government

49 minutes ago

Toronto's largest Pow Wow shares Indigenous culture

49 minutes ago

Oilers’ McDavid, Draisaitl break dry spells on brink of elimination

49 minutes ago

Wildfire north of Los Angeles spreads as authorities issue evacuation orders

49 minutes ago

Conor McGregor in ‘good spirits’ after dropping out of UFC 303 with injury

49 minutes ago

Latrell Mitchell wins NSW spot in the centres for Origin II

49 minutes ago

Fire still burns for Ledecky as she makes fourth Olympics