Erik ten Hag 'has doubts about Manchester United exit route'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 01 May 2024

Erik ten Hag 'has doubts about Man United exit route'

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag reportedly has doubts about returning to Ajax should his time at Old Trafford come to an end this summer.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag reportedly harbours doubts about one of his potential exit routes from Old Trafford this summer.

The Dutchman's future at the Theatre of Dreams is no clearer four months after Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased a minority stake in the club and assumed control of footballing operations.

Whether Ten Hag is sacked or keeps his job will come down to the new expert department forged by the INEOS founder, who has not yet given the ex-Ajax boss his public approval.

The Red Devils will face Manchester City in a repeat of last year's FA Cup final later this month, but they have flattered to deceive in the Premier League and finished bottom of their Champions League group.

Already guaranteed to finish outside of the top four, Man United saw their fleeting Champions League hopes officially dashed on Wednesday, where Borussia Dortmund's semi-final first-leg win over Paris Saint-Germain ensured that the Premier League would not be earning a fifth spot for the 2024-25 tournament.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag looks dejected after Chelsea are awarded a penalty on April 4, 2024 © Reuters

Ten Hag 'reluctant to return to Ajax'

Ten Hag still has a year left on his contract with the Red Devils, but despite insisting that he has no doubts about his future, he has supposedly admitted privately that he does not know whether he will still be at the helm next term.

As the 54-year-old waits to learn his fate, links have surfaced over a possible return to Ajax, where he made a name for himself in management by reaching the semi-finals of the 2018-19 Champions League.

Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt both earned big-money moves to Barcelona and Juventus respectively after being taken under Ten Hag's wing, and Ajax will be on the hunt for a new coach when John van 't Schip leaves at the end of the season.

However, even though Ajax would reportedly welcome him back with open arms, The Mirror claims that Ten Hag is reluctant to go back to Amsterdam, and his erstwhile team are aware of such.

Nevertheless, Ajax are still said to be keeping a close eye on developments, and they would extend a hand to the 54-year-old should he find himself out of work and have a change of heart.

Is Ten Hag at risk of the sack this summer?

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag on April 21, 2024 © Reuters

Ratcliffe's silence on Ten Hag's position at Man United speaks volumes in itself, but for the time being, there are not believed to be any plans to relieve the Dutchman of his duties just yet.

The Red Devils boss has plenty of credit in the bank from last season, reaching two cup finals - winning one of them - and finishing third in the Premier League, and he could end the 2023-24 campaign with a second trophy in as many seasons.

However, after every passing match in which the Red Devils concede a surfeit of chances to the opposition, Ten Hag's post-match comments have been baffling; he labelled his side one of the most "dynamic and entertaining" teams in the league after they failed to beat 19th-placed Burnley at home.

The 54-year-old has not been helped by his players' wastefulness in front of goal, though, and for the time being, the hierarchy are reportedly planning for next season with the assumption that he will still be in charge.

Managerial candidates are being assessed of course, but with no top-class options thought to be open to the job at this time, Ten Hag's job will seemingly be safe unless a strong contender throws his hat into the ring.