Erik Ten Hag led Manchester United to a stunning FA Cup victory over rivals Manchester City, then warned the club’s hierarchy: ‘If you don’t want me, I’ll go and win elsewhere!’

Speculation over Ten Hag’s future had been rife in the build-up to the game, with one report on Friday claiming that new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his leadership team had already decided to part ways with the Dutchman this summer, regardless of Saturday’s result.

Immediately after his side’s 2-1 victory at Wembley, Ten Hag told the BBC he did not know whether he was about to be sacked but later, in his post-match press conference, came out fighting, highlighting last season’s League Cup triumph and insisting he would have success elsewhere should Old Trafford chiefs pull the trigger.

“I’m in a project and we are exactly where we want to be,” said Ten Hag, whose side finished eighth in the Premier League this season, their worst finish in the competition’s history. “When I came to United it was a mess. We’re constructing a team for the future. There are ups and downs but the team is developing and winning. It’s about winning trophies.

“There is still a lot to do but we are exactly where we are, we are progressing very well. We’re winning trophies, two in two years is not bad, three finals. But we have to keep going.

“If they don’t want me anymore, I’ll go somewhere else and do what I’ve done my whole managerial career, winning matches and trophies.”