Manchester United News: The Red Devils have reportedly interviewed Erik Ten Hag on Monday. The Ajax manager reportedly even took Advanced English lessons to help him get the job.
The Red Devils did not have a clear game plan when they sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November. The sacking of their former manager was done suddenly. Hence the Manchester United board did not have any backup in mind at that time.
Given that Solskjaer was relieved of his duties mid-season, a lot of elite coaches were unlikely to leave their current clubs. Hence Manchester United opted to sign Ralf Rangnick as their interim manager until the end of the season.
With the 2021/22 season now nearing a trophyless end, United have stepped up their hunt for a new manager. The club reportedly wants to sign the new manager as soon as possible as per the reports.
Manchester United News: Erik Ten Hag in pole position as per reports!
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As per the Mirror, Erik Ten Hag was reportedly interviewed by the Manchester United board on Monday. The interview went positive and the current Ajax manager is now the favourite for the job as per reports.
But this was not Erik Ten Hag’s first interview with a Premier League club. The 52-year old reportedly gave an interview to Tottenham Hotspur to succeed Jose Mourinho at the club last season.
The Ajax manager reportedly reached the last rounds of the interview process. But Ten Hag was reportedly rejected after he “lacked Charisma” and knew only “adequate English”.
Erik Ten Hag had reportedly taken a lesson from this episode as he had been taking English classes. Owing to this, his English is now at an advanced level.
The Dutch manager has been around the block in his managerial club. Ten Hag has managed Bayern Munich II while Pep Guardiola was the manager of the main squad. Hence the 52-year-old is very close with the Manchester City boss.
Erik Ten Hag has even praised Guardiola in recent interviews. The Dutchman has said that he has learned a lot from Pep Guardiola over the years. Hence his gameplay of attacking, possession-based football is also similar to that of the Manchester City manager.
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Other candidates, who have been interviewed?
As per reports, at least three other candidates were also part of the shortlist that has been made by Manchester United. This includes the likes of Julen Lopetegui, Luis Enrique, and Mauricio Pochettino.
The Paris Saint-Germain boss currently remains as one of the favorites along with Erik Ten Hag. Recent results with PSG have reportedly been noted by the United board. Hence they have made the Ajax manager the favourite for now. It has to be seen if one of these two managers will succeed at landing the job at the end of the 2021/22 season.
