Pep Guardiola has warned Erik ten Hag that he will be judged on results at Manchester United, despite acknowledging the Dutchman has been unfortunate with injuries this season. The Manchester City manager made the comments ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley, where his side face United.
Ten Hag has faced mounting pressure after a disappointing campaign that saw United finish eighth in the Premier League, while City secured a fourth consecutive title. In his defence, Ten Hag has pointed to a lengthy injury list, particularly in defence, but Guardiola insisted that does not shield managers from scrutiny.
“In big clubs like United and City, when you don't win you are always in trouble,” Guardiola said. “I completely agree when I listen to him and he says they were not a full squad. They had a lot of injuries. But you have to be fit, otherwise you cannot use the players. When that happens, the manager suffers a lot.”
City have the chance to become the first side to win successive domestic doubles, having already secured the Premier League title. Guardiola, however, stressed the importance of the FA Cup itself. “Even if we did not have the chance to do these kind of things, the FA Cup is the FA Cup. It's Wembley, fans going down to London. It's the last effort,” he said.
City are almost at full strength, with only goalkeeper Ederson sidelined due to a fractured eye socket. Guardiola also paid tribute to United's history, saying: “In terms of history, they are the best team in England. You have to respect them massively.”
