'I am not responsible!' - Erik ten Hag lays the blame at Man Utd directors as under-fire manager denies role in expensive transfers following miserable season

While United remain on a high following their surprise FA Cup success, questions are still being asked of Ten Hag, whose team flattered to deceive for much of the campaign. This is despite the Dutchman spending more than £400m ($510m/€470m) on new signings, including those of Antony, Casemiro and Mount - three players who haven't repaid United on the pitch.

Ten Hag's signings haven't worked, but thankfully United's academy continues to do so. Graduates Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho both enjoyed breakthrough seasons, and capped it off by scoring in the 2-1 FA Cup final win over rivals City.

Ten Hag insists he isn't to blame for United's excessive outlay, instead appearing to point the finger at the old administration - former chief executive Richard Arnold and ex-football director John Murtough.

"The prices paid for players are indeed very high - but I am not responsible for that," he said, per the Mirror. "The club did all the negotiations, including with very good potential players who didn't come in the end.

"So it is all a bit more nuanced than the picture that is being painted that the purchase policy is disastrous. It's all negative, but despite all the problems, the foundation at the club has grown stronger. That may not all be visible to the outside world now, but everyone internally will make that analysis."

The FA Cup win might have given Ten Hag, who was all but certain to depart had it not gone United's way, a lifeline. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team, which includes Sir Dave Brailsford and interim chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc, must now decide whether Ten Hag really is the manager to lead them into the future.