Erik ten Hag has talked up his relationship with one former Manchester United manager ahead of the Red Devils’ crucial FA Cup semi-final tie on Sunday.
Manchester United have struggled in the current campaign under Erik ten Hag, who is in his second season at Old Trafford, after an inconsistent run of results.
The hopes of finishing in the Premier League top four are all but over for Ten Hag’s men, who languish in seventh place in the league table.
United have won only once in their last five league matches, with the Red Devils picking up a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium last weekend.
The Red Devils are 13 points adrift from fourth-place Aston Villa, who have played one match more than United in the Premier League.
Despite his shortcomings in the league, Ten Hag could still end the season on a high note if United can mount a successful challenge for the FA Cup.
United punched their ticket to the FA Cup semi-finals after an emphatic 4-3 win over archrivals Liverpool at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals last month.
Ten Hag talks former Man Utd manager
Manchester United face Coventry City at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals, with kick-off slated for 3:30pm UK time.
Erik ten Hag fell short of the FA Cup trophy last season after United suffered a 2-1 defeat to crosstown rivals Manchester City at Wembley.
The Red Devils have failed to lift the FA Cup since 2016, with Louis van Gaal being the last United manager to lay hands on the trophy.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Ten Hag admitted that he had a positive relationship with former United boss Louis van Gaal.
“Oh, I have a very good relationship with Louis,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“But we didn’t talk actually, the last time, about United. But, yeah, everywhere where Louis was he had success, he won trophies. And also here at United.”
Ten Hag on Van Gaal’s FA Cup success with Man Utd
United secured the FA Cup trophy in 2016 after coming from 1-0 down against Crystal Palace in the final at Wembley.
Jason Puncheon opened the scoring for Crystal Palace in the second half before Juan Mata scored a crucial equaliser for United to send the FA Cup tie into extra time.
Former United star Jesse Lingard then broke the deadlock in extra time to ensure that the Red Devils sealed the FA Cup trophy ahead of Palace.
Despite his success in the FA Cup, Van Gaal would later be sacked and replaced by Jose Mourinho after United missed out on a top-four Premier League finish.
Ten Hag admitted that he knows all about United’s last FA Cup triumph under Van Gaal, but he doesn’t think he watched it at the time.
“I’m aware of the game [FA Cup final against Crystal Palace in 2016],” he added.
“If I watched it at the time, I don’t think so. But I’m fully aware of it, that he was the last manager to win the FA Cup with Manchester United.”