Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Davy Klaassen has aimed a sly dig at Manchester United with regards to their widely publicised pursuit of manager, Erik ten Hag.
Man United have reportedly interviewed ten Hag as one of a number of candidates to take up the permanent manager role after Ralf Rangnick’s interim stint which will see the German move upstairs to a consultancy role.
Reports from England and the Netherlands also claim that ten Hag, 52, is keen on the job and that it looks like a matter of when, not if, for the Dutchman to be in the dugout for the Red Devils.
The former FC Twente boss, however, is one of two options that Man United are considering, the other being former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino, who is currently enduring a tough spell as manager of Paris Saint-Germain despite a 12-point lead at the summit of the French Ligue 1.
Netherlands national team manager Louis van Gaal, who formerly managed Manchester United before going on a sabbatical from active management, recently told his compatriot not to accept the job.
Van Gaal, who managed United from 2014-2016 and won the FA Cup, called United a ‘commercial club’, claiming they were only interested in looking marketable rather than football.
Now, one of ten Hag’s players at Ajax, Davy Klaassen, has come out to speak against Manchester United with hopes that the 52-year-old remains at the club.
Klaassen, who has Premier League experience with Everton, said bluntly that Man United have been doing badly.
“He has been doing well with us for years and Manchester United has been doing badly for years,” Klaassen told Voetball Primeur.
Asked if ten Hag could leave Ajax at the end of the season, the former Everton man replied: “He can also stay. I hope so.”
Klaassen is not the first Ajax player to speak on the subject. Former West Ham United forward Sebastian Haller spoke about it earlier, but expressed optimism about ten Hag’s continuity at Ajax in his comments.
“Every dressing room is different and every team is different. Then you have to act differently, depending on the selection you have at your disposal. We’ll see how he will do,” Haller said.
“I know how good Ten Hag is tactically. He always has a good view of the opponents. With that he gives us the key to win a match.
“We all understand if he did it, but I think it’s up to the coach to choose what he wants. We’re just his players.
“I’m just grateful for what he has done for me and I hope he will make the best decision for himself.”
Meanwhile there are reports that ten Hag has added another player from Ajax to his list who will leave the Johan Cruijff Arena with him to Old Trafford.
20-year-old centre back Jurrien Timber has become the latest Ajax player to be tipped to follow ten Hag to England, along with Brazilian winger Antony.
Dutch football journalist and transfer insider Mike Vermeij made these claims on a local show. Meanwhile, United will have the small matter of ten Hag’s contract at Ajax to deal with if they are to get the Dutchman and the two players who he would like to come with.
The Red Devils will have to shell out £1.7 million to Ajax to buy out ten Hag’s contract in the summer.
