Erik the red is the wheel deal

BOSS DRIVER IN FOR LONG HAUL

- Jeremy Cross

DON’T expect Erik ten Hag to revel in his own success tonight should he win his first silverware as Manchester United boss.

If someone deserves to celebrate it is Ten Hag, because landing the Carabao Cup in his first season in one of the most demanding jobs in football would or could prove to be a watershed moment.

But dancing on the famous Wembley turf swigging from a bottle of champagne just isn’t in his makeup.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

Earlier this week a laughable tale emerged from United’s opponents this afternoon Newcastle, which stated the club would not hold an open-top bus parade if Eddie Howe’s men lost the final. What?

That’s a bit like saying I won’t go down the pub to have a few pints this weekend if I fail to win the Euro Millions jackpot.

Now we all know how starved of success Newcastle have been down the decades, but finishing second is nothing to be celebrated in elite sport.

Nobody remembers a runner-up in football.