Man United don’t have the luxury of overlooking the FA Cup

WIGAN, England — In the debate about the significance of the FA Cup, Erik ten Hag can depart the chat.

Floundering in the Premier League and out of Europe earlier than Christmas, the Manchester United supervisor wants a trophy to underline to new minority proprietor Sir Jim Ratcliffe that he is the proper man to guide a brand new period at Old Trafford. Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp can argue they have larger priorities, however Ten Hag has no alternative however to take the FA Cup significantly.

As he battles to impress Ratcliffe and INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford, the Dutchman can solely hope the Cup has misplaced none of its previous magic. Any extra poor ends in a season suffering from them and he may want one thing nearer to a miracle.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)

United averted what would have been an embarrassing slip-up towards League One Wigan Athletic to win 2-0 on Monday evening and arrange a fourth-round tie with both Newport County or Eastleigh earlier than the finish of January. Guardiola and Klopp shall be requested whether or not they’re tempted to rotate forward of their fourth-round ties however Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, on responsibility at the DW Stadium, shall be again in motion towards both League Two Newport or Eastleigh of the National League.

“It’s a massive competition that everyone wants to win,” Ten Hag mentioned after the match. “Every manager is eager to win, we take this seriously.

“We have so many accidents and sicknesses however nonetheless we put out a powerful aspect. We had an excellent crew, so we have been assured earlier than, we should win this recreation. You by no means underestimate any opponent, positively not this aspect, you realize they’ll battle for his or her life as a result of it is the recreation of their life, we took the recreation excellent.”

Winning the FA Cup in 1990 saved Sir Alex Ferguson’s job. Ten Hag, a finalist last year, could use a similar boost at the end of his second season in charge.

Credit in the bank generated by a relatively successful first campaign has been steadily eroded by a series of calamitous defeats, the latest at Nottingham Forest little more than a week ago, to the point where there are legitimate questions about whether Ratcliffe should bring in his own man. Nothing can happen until the investment is ratified in early February, though, giving Ten Hag time to steady the ship.

At the point at which Ratcliffe and Brailsford — in the stands at Wigan alongside chief executive of INEOS sport Jean-Claude Blanc — begin to make decisions of real impact, Ten Hag could use a blossoming cup run to point to.

United did their job against Wigan and, for only the third time in 29 attempts this season, won a game by more than one goal. Nothing is coming easy at the moment, and if more evidence was needed that United exist in an almost constant state of vulnerability, then Wigan provided it inside three minutes.

The team sitting 18th in League One, two divisions below the Premier League, leapt onto a misplaced pass in midfield before working the ball to Thelo Aasgaard inside the penalty area. Only a good save from André Onana kept out the shot and prevented Wigan from taking a shock lead.

Despite the freezing January evening, United took 7,506 followers to Wigan, filling the east stand, and ultimately their nerves have been calmed when Diogo Dalot’s curled shot from the edge of the field discovered the backside nook.

Rashford, Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund all missed good possibilities to place the tie to mattress. Alejandro Garnacho hit the crossbar. It wasn’t till Fernandes scored a penalty with 17 minutes to go that United have been assured of their place in the subsequent spherical. It was solely at that time that the travelling supporters felt snug sufficient to sing “We’re the famous Man United and we’re going to Wembley.”

“It’s all about the win,” Ten Hag mentioned. “First half, the way we played, the performance, how we worked the ball, how we made our runs, the investment in the final third, we created a lot of chances and that was pleasing to see. I think we should have scored more but the good thing is we created the chances.”

As the FA Cup fights for its place in the English soccer calendar, there might be little doubt about its significance for Ten Hag and United this season. The Dutchman ready for the journey to Wigan by holding his first conferences with Ratcliffe and the INEOS crew, however after a depressing marketing campaign up to now, there are nonetheless questions on whether or not he’ll get the likelihood, long run, to guide the new venture.

As he seems to be to offer the solutions between now and the finish of the season, successful the FA Cup will turn into a good larger precedence. His crew are over the first hurdle.