ERIK TEN HAG's latest success at Manchester United may have NEVER happened if he had stuck to his original tactical plan in the FA Cup final.

The Dutchman was sacked as Man Utd manager on Monday following a controversial 2-1 defeat to West Ham.

4

4

This left Man Utd in 14th place in the Premier League after their worst ever start to the season.

Ten Hag, 54, had looked like a dead man at Old Trafford after finishing a record eighth in the previous Prem season.

But he secured an unlikely rescue by shocking Manchester City to win the FA Cup final in May, thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

However, the outcome of this game could have been very different.

That's because Ten Hag had to be dissuaded from their planned tactics for the Wembley Stadium showdown by worried Darren Fletcher, according to The Independent.

It is claimed that Ten Hag wanted to take on the League Champion in a kamikaze plan.

And only after hours of debate led by then technical director Fletcher did Ten Hag give in.

The tactical changes he eventually made before the game proved to be a pleasure, as the 4-4-2 formation helped United defend against Pep Guardiola's side and gave United the opportunity to be dangerous on the counterattack .

CASINO SPECIAL – THE BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

Ten Hag had also reportedly listened to new club boss Jason Wilcox's advice to use Bruno Fernandes as a false 9 for the final, which earned the captain an assist for the winner.

Man Utd have tried to keep up with other teams this season and came up embarrassingly short against Liverpool and Tottenham in 3-0 defeats at Old Trafford.

Behind the scenes, a senior member of Ineos' hierarchy reportedly said in key meetings, “I told you this would happen,” with the deciding factor being who might be next.

However, having made it through its first transfer window, Ineos now appears to have made rapid progress in appointing a potential successor.

Sporting manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly agreed to become the new Red Devils boss.

United will have to pay his £8.5 million transfer fee, but the 39-year-old has impressive achievements: two league titles ended a 19-year drought for the club.

The 'Special One 2.0' has been closely linked with replacing Pep Guardiola at Man City, but has also been linked to Liverpool, West Ham, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

Amorim has a distinct style with his 3-4-3 system and will have a five-point checklist of things to do when he arrives.

The former midfielder has already broken his silence on the prospect of taking the job, admitting: “I was already expecting this question (about Man Utd) and of course I won't talk about the future because otherwise I always will have. to comment.

“I’m very proud to be Sporting’s coach, that’s all.”

The Portuguese tactician actually already has a tenuous connection with Man Utd, having faced them three times in his career, including against a player he is now tasked with coaching.

4

4