Man United can still save Erik ten Hag with surprise Chelsea blueprint after Mauricio Pochettino call

Manchester United's season is being held together by the hope that it could end with silverware courtesy of the FA Cup.

Erik ten Hag's second season has undoubtedly been one to forget. While the Dutchman could rightly argue that injuries have done him no favours, United are not the only team to struggle with them this season.

Even if they had been, the performances in the Champions League and Premier League would still have been unacceptable. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe now on the scene, there is an acceptance that United are now at the beginning of a new chapter and Ten Hag's role in that is precarious.

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But his future could have been given a helping hand by what is happening 211 miles south of Old Trafford. Mauricio Pochettino is no stranger to the challenges which are facing Ten Hag at present.

At PSG, the Argentine's position was in constant jeopardy before eventually being sacked. Now at Chelsea, Pochettino has faced similar strife in his first full season as like United, the Blues have struggled.

In recent weeks though Chelsea have started to turn the corner slowly but surely. Monday night's humiliation of Everton, penalty dramatics aside, was an example of what Pochettino's trying to build for owner Todd Boehly and the fans.

His belated success at Stamford Bridge acts as an argument to keep Ten Hag for at least another season. While Pochettino has been given the funds in the transfer window, United's boss has not been given such a luxury.

While critics will argue that £72m on Rasmus Hojlund is not peanuts, the funds soon ran out for the 'open heart surgery', as Ralf Rangnick put it, which the first-team squad needed desperately. Having tolerated a shoddy recruitment process under the Glazers, it seems only right that the manager is given an opportunity to see what he can do with the backing of a cooperative boardroom.

Unfortunately for Ten Hag, a defeat to Coventry City on Sunday will all but end any chance of that luxury.