Could Ten Hag end up staying at Ajax?

Karan Tejwani

18 Apr 2022 11:25 BST
3 min read

Ajax’s technical manager Gerry Hamstra has admitted Ajax are trying to keep hold of manager Erik ten Hag, despite strong interest from Manchester United.

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The 52-year-old head coach is soon expected to take over at Manchester United, having been the frontrunner for the job for several weeks.

However, Hamstra has made it clear that the Dutch giants are still fighting to keep the coach, discussing his future before Ajax’s KNVB Cup final defeat to PSV.

Could Erik ten Hag stay at Ajax

“There is interest for Erik ten Hag, that is normal. He has done fantastic,” Hamstra told ESPN.

“We hope he stays. We have to stick with the facts, he has not left yet. He still is focusing on Ajax, so do we.

“We did everything possible [to keep him at Ajax]. We were very busy with that. He reacted that he is focusing on Ajax now. Now we are preparing for two scenarios, Ten Hag might stay or might leave.”

Ajax lost the KNVB Cup final to PSV, having taken a 1-0 lead in the first-half through Ryan Gravenberch.

In the second-half, however, two goals in quick succession from Erick Gutierrez and Cody Gakpo turned the tie around and secured the win for PSV.

🗣 "From what I know, all the managers with whom the club has so far spoken are top managers, top coaches, if this includes Erik ten Hag it's also true with him"

Rangnick discusses Man Utd's pursuit of Erik ten Hag 👇 pic.twitter.com/5emFDzOfFg
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 8, 2022

Ajax can count themselves unlucky, having seen two goals ruled out for offside, while Dusan Tadic hit the woodwork and Brian Brobbey missed a chance in the first half when Ajax were leading.

That leaves them with just one possible trophy to win this season – the Eredivisie title – where they currently sit on top of the table with a four-point lead over PSV.

Earlier in the season, Ajax exited the Champions League in the Round of 16, having lost to Benfica.

Since then, Ten Hag has been widely rumoured to leave the club.

United reportedly made a four-man shortlist, and it came down to the Ajax boss and Paris Saint-Germain’s Mauricio Pochettino, with the Dutchman now the preferred choice.

For the last few weeks, however, Ten Hag has said his focus is solely on Ajax, and the club may try to keep him at the club for longer.