Pep Guardiola is confident Erik ten Hag "will come back stronger" after Man United sack

Many will argue that Ten Hag survived the axe at the end of last season when he surprisingly steered Man United to FA Cup glory, beating Man City in the final at Wembley Stadium.

The 54-year-old was then handed a new two-year contract by the Red Devils and was backed by the club's hierarchy in the summer transfer window, with over £200m forked out on five new first-team signings.

However, Man United have endured a disappointing start to the new season, winning only four of their opening 14 matches under Ten Hag across all competitions.

Ten Hag was relieved of his duties by Man United on Monday less than 24 hours after the Red Devils suffered a 2-1 defeat away against West Ham United in the Premier League, leaving them languishing in 14th place in the table.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been placed in interim charge "while a permanent head coach is recruited" by Man United, who have allegedly agreed in principle to appoint Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim as Ten Hag's successor.

Guardiola: 'I'm very sorry for Ten Hag'

Reacting to the news of Ten Hag's dismissal at a press conference on Tuesday, Guardiola said: "I feel very sorry for him, it's one of the best jobs in football.

"I think incredible relationship [with Ten Hag]. I think he represented Manchester United at the highest level in terms of behaviours.

"Our job as managers is one of the few jobs - in all the jobs in the world - where people are expecting to be sacked. People are expecting you don't have a job.

"I don't see architects or doctors or teachers [receiving the same treatment]. The people deciding [their futures don't say]: 'Get out.' It's only us. It's our job - we have to accept it.

"I wish him all the best, he and his family, and of course he's going to come back stronger. He knows, I know, everybody knows that our job depends on the results. The results are not good enough.

Guardiola: 'Football is a results business'

"I'm saying that, and even myself, I'm not an exception. If the results are not good, there isn't anything that can sustain it... Our job, unfortunately, is as simple as that - you have to get results.

"If you are [there] because you are handsome, or because you [speak well], or have good relationships with the hierarchies, forget about it.

"I have an incredible relationship with my hierarchy, but if I didn't get results, I wouldn't be here. This is a business, and when you become a manager, you have to know it."

Ten Hag spent two-and-a-half years in charge of Man United and won 54.69% of his 128 games across all competitions, lifting last season's FA Cup and the 2022-23 EFL Cup.

Van Nistelrooy will take charge of his first game as Man United's interim manager when they welcome Leicester City to Old Trafford for an EFL Cup last-16 tie on Wednesday night.

Man City are also in EFL Cup action on Wednesday when they will travel to North London to face Tottenham Hotspur.