April 29th 2024.
Erik ten Hag is currently facing a difficult situation at Manchester United, as his job is on the line. Rumors have been circulating that he may have a way out, as his former club Ajax is reportedly interested in bringing him back as their manager in the upcoming summer.
At 54 years old, Ten Hag has been under immense pressure due to United's disappointing performances in both the Champions League and Premier League. The team is currently in sixth place, 13 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa. The speculation surrounding Ten Hag's position has only intensified after Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the new co-owner of United, did not publicly support the head coach following his partial takeover in February. It is uncertain who will be in charge at the start of the next season.
However, United still has a chance to redeem themselves with an upcoming FA Cup final against their rivals Manchester City. This game could determine Ten Hag's future at the club, as reports from the Netherlands suggest that Ajax is closely monitoring the situation at Old Trafford and have placed Ten Hag at the top of their list of potential managerial targets. This would be a reunion for Ten Hag, who left Ajax two years ago to take over at United.
Ajax's current interim manager, John van 't Schip, is expected to leave at the end of the season, and the club has identified Ten Hag as a potential replacement. Other names on their shortlist include Graham Potter and Francesco Farioli. However, according to The Daily Mail, Ten Hag and his coaching staff are hesitant to leave United and force a return to Ajax. Ten Hag may be seeking a new challenge outside of his home country, with options in La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga if he is let go by United.
Ten Hag's contract with United still has over a year remaining, and it could cost the club more than £10 million to terminate it this summer. A recent 1-1 draw with Burnley has not helped Ten Hag's case, as he admitted defeat in the race for a Champions League qualification spot.
INEOS, the new co-owner of United, will wait until after the FA Cup final to make a final decision on Ten Hag's future. When asked if Europa League qualification was now the most likely outcome for United, Ten Hag responded, "That is the fact. It is not easy to get fourth place when you are so far behind. We needed to win. The past few weeks, we have had opportunities to win and then given it away. The gap is too big at this stage of the season."
There have also been reports that United have held talks with Thomas Tuchel, who will be leaving Bayern Munich this summer. United legend Peter Schmeichel believes that Tuchel would be a great fit for the club and has the necessary experience to manage a big club like United if Ten Hag is let go. "He projects an authority," Schmeichel said. "If Manchester United were in the market for a manager, then he should definitely be considered. He has the pedigree, the experience, and has proven he can win. He is not tied to one specific system, and that is important. He is a top manager."
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