Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand feels head coach Erik Ten Hag could have retained his job had he made a claim which he refused to make. The Dutchman’s job at Old Trafford is hanging by a thin thread as Manchester United have managed 15 wins in 32 Premier League matches with five draws and 12 losses and thus they have a total of 50 points under their bag.

The Red Devils are currently in seventh place in the Premier League standings. Furthermore, Manchester United suffered early exits from the EFL Cup and UEFA Champions League.

Meanwhile, United won the semifinals of the FA Cup against Coventry City by 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in regulation and extra time.

After the narrow win, Ten Hag attributed the team’s struggle to injury woes throughout the season.

“That would be crazy,” Ten Hag said. “You need the tools to manage, and with all the injuries we don’t have so many tools. We don’t even have a back four in their best positions.

“On that part, I have to give the team a compliment, the players managed that, they were in a position that is not in their best. They gave 100 percent. It’s not always easy to play the best football when you’re not in your best position.”

Ferdinand said it would have been better for United if they had adopted an aggressive approach despite injury troubles.

“If he set up to become a counter-attacking team, and said ‘we’ve got too many injuries and can’t play any other way’, boom, he probably would have been guaranteed his job next year on that basis,” the former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said on FIVE.

“We wouldn’t have been as open, wouldn’t have conceded as many shots, and wouldn’t have lost as many games I’m sure, but its difficult,” he added.

Manchester United will face Manchester City in the FA Cup final on 25th May.