Ajax boss Erik ten Hag insists he has heard NOTHING about the vacant Manchester United position following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking before hitting out at reporter for always asking ‘weird questions’ over the links
- Erik ten Hag insist he has ‘heard nothing’ about becoming Man United’s new boss
- It comes hours after United sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their manager
- The Dutchman was asked about the position after Ajax’s 5-0 win over Waalwijk
- Ten Hag slammed the reporter for ‘asking weird questions’ about his future
Erik ten Hag insists he has heard ‘nothing’ about the vacant managerial role at Manchester United as the Ajax boss refuses to be drawn in on speculation linking him with the Old Trafford job.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked as United boss on Sunday following a string of woeful defeats, which included a humiliating 5-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool and a derby loss to Manchester City before the final straw of the embarrassing 4-1 reverse at Watford.
The Red Devils have now begun their search for a new boss with Michael Carrick taking temporary charge, and Ten Hag is one of the favourites to take on the role.
Erik ten Hag insist he has ‘heard nothing’ about becoming Manchester United’s new boss – and the Dutchman slammed a reporter for ‘asking weird questions’ about his future in Holland
He joins the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Zinedine Zidane in being considered to become Solskjaer’s successor after taking Ajax from strength to strength in the Eredivisie and in Europe.
However, when asked about the vacant position at United after Ajax’s 5-0 win over RKC Waalwijk on Sunday, Ten Hag refused to be drawn in on speculation linking him with the role before asking why he keeps being asked ‘weird questions’ about his work.
‘I am focused on my team, we have a brilliant squad and we want to achieve a lot,’ he told a reporter in his post match interview.
‘We have a brilliant squad, we want to fight for titles. My focus is on Ajax, the rest only distracts. I expect from my players that they are focused on Ajax, so I have to give the right example for that too.
United sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a day after his side’s defeat by Watford on Saturday
Solskjaer finally got the boot after a series of humiliating Premier League defeats
‘You keep asking me [about my position as Ajax manager], yes it is a weird question. I heard nothing about [United’s interest], so I can’t think about it.’
As it stands, Leicester boss Rodgers is the bookies favourite to become the next United boss while Zidane isn’t far behind.
According to The Sun, United are moving quickly to appoint a new permanent manager and have made contact with Rodgers.
The report adds the Old Trafford hierarchy would be prepared to pay Leicester £8million in compensation to lure the 48-year-old away from the King Power Stadium.
Brendan Rodgers said speculation linking him with the Manchester United job ‘is not real’
Speaking ahead of Leicester’s match against Chelsea on Friday, Rodgers said it was ‘really disrespectful’ to ask him to comment on the rumours linking him with the United job.
‘There’s two things. Firstly it is really disrespectful to ask the question when you have a manager in place, a good manager and a good man, who is working hard at the club,’ he said.
‘Secondly I can’t really comment on it, because it is not something that is real.
‘I am here as the Leicester City manager, proud to be here, privileged to be here and fully committed to the players, the club, the ownership.
‘That’s about it, all the other noise around that is something we can’t control.’
PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino is also on United’s shortlist to replace Solskjaer
As is former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, who is apparently not keen on United
PSG boss and former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is also in the running to replace Solskjaer and is keen to take on the role.
As reported by Sportsmail, the Argentine would be ready to quit PSG and return to the Premier League because he is unhappy in the French capital.
The former Tottenham boss is said to be frustrated at managing a dressing-room with big egos like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and lives in a hotel in Paris while his family remain in London.
According to BBC Sport, meanwhile, Zidane ‘is not interested in taking over’ at Old Trafford, despite being approached by the club.
