Three media outlets were banned from questioning Erik ten Hag in his latest press conference. The Manchester United manager rowed with journalists following his side's FA Cup tie with Coventry last Sunday, taking exception to suggestions the manner of his side's shooutout win was an 'embarrassment'.
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The Dutchman called the comments 'disgraceful', and also moved to defend Antony after the winger was criticised for goading Coventry players immediately after the win. United followed by their Wembley appearance by beating Sheffield United 4-2 on Wednesday, having to twice comeback from a goal down to the Premier League's bottom side.
And ahead of the home game with Burnley on Saturday, the club took a stance in Ten Hag's pre-match press conference. The manager did not take questions from The Sun, Manchester Evening News (MEN) or The Mirror, in an apparent protest against the manner of their reporting.
In the aftermath of the semi-final win, one MEN reporter took to social media to call for the sacking of the 54-year-old, irrespective of his side's upcoming final appearance. "Ten Hag cannot survive this," he wrote. "He has to go ASAP."
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The return to Wembley to face Man City will represent a third cup final in two seasons for Ten Hag, since leaving Ajax in the summer of 2022. And he's cut a defiant figure this week, previously arguing that United should be commended for their success in the domestic cups.
"Getting into the final is already a big achievement, but we are here for trophies," he said. "We have an opportunity to win a trophy and that is good. But we are not satisfied by being in the final, we want to win it and that is what we will go for and it's our mentality."
And he defended his own record, adding: "That is why we are successful. That’s why I am successful over 10 years as a manager, I always bring out the maximum of each squad."
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But the latest developments will only serve to enhance the media perception that Ten Hag is feeling the strain as he bids to avoid United's worst ever finish to a Premier League season. That came under David Moyes in the 2013/14 campaign, when a seventh-palced finish ultimately cost the Scot his job.
The win over the Blades has given United respite in that respect. They now lie sixth, but Champions League qualification is as good as beyond them given the 13-point deficit to Aston Villa in fourth - though the Red Devils have a game in hand.
