Erik ten Hag breaks silence on Man Utd talks and reacts to Thomas Tuchel meeting
Ten Hag will continue as United boss (Picture: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Erik ten Hag has revealed there is still no agreement with Manchester United over a new contract after the club’s decision to keep the Dutchman in charge at Old Trafford.
After a poor Premier League campaign where United finished in eighth place, ten Hag was under mounting pressure before an FA Cup final victory over Manchester City offered him hope.
Following that Wembley success, United conducted a thorough end-of-season review where they reached out to a number of potential new managers. Sir Jim Ratcliffe held talks with Thomas Tuchel in recent weeks only for United’s hierarchy to decide the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss was not the right fit for the club’s new structure.
Last week, it emerged United had made the decision to stick with Ten Hag, planning to hold talks over extending his contract at the club. His current deal runs through top next June and includes the option of a further 12 months.
However, the former Ajax boss says that new contract is not a done deal just yet.
Ten Hag was part of the punditry team for Dutch broadcaster NOS for England’s Euro 2024 clash against Serbia on Sunday night. He explained that after weeks of radio silence over his future at Old Trafford, United officials ‘showed up on his doorstep’ to tell him they wanted him to stay.
‘It was a turbulent season,’ ten Hag said. ‘I was able to take a bit of a holiday. This week, United suddenly showed up on my doorstep. That they would like to continue with me.
Ten Hag guided United to FA Cup glory (Picture: Alex Pantling/Getty Images )
‘In any organisation it is wise that you evaluate and that you draw your conclusions from that. Manchester United has that The new leadership then decided on this.’
On United holding talks with other managers, he continued: ‘Everyone has heard that they have spoken to several candidates. In the Netherlands, something like that is not possible and it is not even allowed.
‘You are not allowed to just talk to another club. as long as there is a current head coach. In England it is different. Manchester United have told me that they spoke with Tuchel, but they eventually came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager.”
United hope to tie ten Hag down to a new deal in the coming weeks. Asked for an update on that negotiations, ten Hag added: ‘We have spoken well and various topics have been on the table.
‘The conclusion is that we are going to sit down to extend the contract. We still have to reach an agreement, because that has not been done easily. Let’s talk about it some more.’
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