Erik ten Hag got up, tucked his chair in and departed the press conference, leaving the Carabao Cup behind him on the table.
Realising his mistake, he quickly scooped up the trophy. But there was a twinkle in his eye as quipped – half jokingly – that he was already thinking about the “next one”.
That arrives quickly. On Wednesday Manchester United play West Ham in the fifth round of the FA Cup and at the weekend they return to the Premier League grind. “100 per cent focus is necessary,” as Ten Hag rightly says.
For him, that is clear cut but amid the celebrations in the capital, the presence of Avram Glazer was a reminder that moving on from more than a decade of underachievement is only possible with a break from an ownership that has held them back.
The process they began might have smoked out substantial bids from Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani but Glazer’s presence and proximity to the celebrations confirms that breathless talk of new owners by April resides at the optimistic end of what plays out next for United.
No one really knows what the Glazers are thinking but nearly every source i has spoken to so far agrees that they want a premium price. That’s understood to be close to the £6bn mark and doesn’t, as football finance specialist Kieran Maguire stressed to i, represent “anywhere close to value for money“.
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No one wants to pin down a number but most believe there will have to be a compromise if a deal is done. A couple of the Glazer family members retaining a stake or even adding further heft to the Qatari bid by inviting more backers in return for a percentage are theories doing the rounds in takeover circles.
The issue is that Ten Hag’s success might obscure the desperate need to rebuild the fundamentals around a transformative manager. A rebuilt stadium is a distant dream under the Glazers.
Ten Hag is a seriously impressive character and with every passing week it feels clearer that he is a truly special coaching talent ready to move into the elite bracket.
Tactically his tweaks have impacted games and his coaching is understood to be fresh, innovative and detailed. But it is his man management and charisma that have really impressed.
"I can leave it because the next cup. This one is in"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 26, 2023
Just Erik ten Hag nearly leaving the Carabao Cup trophy behindpic.twitter.com/GLY8fMZta1
He arrived in England with warnings from Amsterdam that it took him time to open up and articulate his vision for the club. In the early days at Ajax, he was mocked in some quarters for his mannerisms.
It’s difficult to square that with the clear, compelling message that comes from Ten Hag in his second language or the way he has taken his players on the journey with him.
His values – hard work, unity, “buy in” to a collective set of rules and standards – have won over a group of players that were written off as unmanageable. He commands respect but the players like him. They know there are no favourites and no exceptions and his “gamble” to join the club seems to have paid off.
“It was a risk but I’m a little bit stubborn,” he said of his decision to join the club at such a low ebb.
“I just love United. When I see our shirts, I see Old Trafford, I see a legacy like the one Sir Alex (Ferguson) left, how so many big players were developed by United teams it makes a big impression.
“We all want the same, this team to make its own history and legacy. When this opportunity came I thought this is the right club for me.” It is just a start, but he is well on his way.
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