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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
James Findlater

Erik ten Hag breaks silence on Ajax exit rumours as Manchester United look for new manager

Erik ten Hag addressed his future at Ajax as he spoke for the first time on a “disastrous” few days following Marc Overmars’ departure from the club.

The former Arsenal star left his role as the Dutch giants’ director of football after a series of ‘inappropriate messages’ to female colleagues came to light.

Overmars apologised for his ‘unacceptable’ behaviour, and left Ajax after almost a decade at the club, and just two months after signing a contract extension until 2026.

His departure has led to suggestions that Ten Hag may be considering his future at the club, with the pair having worked closely during their time together.

Ten Hag is one of the names under consideration to take over permanently at Manchester United, with the 52-year-old one of the frontrunners alongside Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Breaking his silence on Overmars’ departure, Ten Hag told Telesport’s Mike Verweij (via Fabrizio Romano ): “Marc Overmars and me were definitely a strong duo. But to think about this now... it's not about me now. We need to process what happened”

“I will start looking at the consequences. I won't think about my future now.”

Addressing Overmars’ departure with ESPN, Ten Hag added: “I’m fine, but I know what you mean. We’ve had incredibly bad days, of course.

“I was totally stunned when I heard it. This is disastrous. Especially for the victims; the women. I have a hard time with the suffering that has been caused to them.

“Everyone processes this in their own way. I then withdraw a bit and am a bit quieter than usual.

“As a coach you naturally have to radiate energy, but that was difficult the last few days.”

Ten Hag and Pochettino are considered the favourites to take over at United in the summer, and reports in France claim the Argentine could be sacked as PSG boss.

United remain confident they will be able to make an appointment before the end of the season, and have their new manager in place in time for the opening of the summer transfer window.

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