Erik ten Hag cracked a joke at Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s expense after Manchester United beat Chelsea on Thursday night.
United secured a place in next season’s Champions League by comfortably dispatching Chelsea 4-1 at Old Trafford. Goals from Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford saw off Frank Lampard’s side, who grabbed a late consolation through Joao Felix’s solo effort.
Ten Hag was in a buoyant mood after the final whistle and appeared on Sky Sports to discuss the result with presenter Kelly Cates and pundits Hasselbaink, Jamie Redknapp and Mary Earps. Before getting into the nitty gritty, the United boss enjoyed poking a bit of fun at his fellow Dutchman.
Hasselbaink had arrived late for the broadcast at Old Trafford and Ten Hag was quick to seize on it. “Not anymore in the queue?” Ten Hag asked as he arrived pitchside. “No,” replied Hasselbaink with a laugh.
Redknapp then interjected with: “He was late by the way, today, that’s why you didn’t see him earlier on. How much do you fine the players when they’re late? We’re thinking about how much we fine him.”
Ten Hag replied with a grin: “Oh yeah, he knows it. He paid a lot in his career!” Hasselbaink shot back: “In the beginning, only in the beginning! Afterwards, no, not any more.”
“We said it before the game – you can pay for our Christmas night out,” Cates added. “That’s what the fine is going to be for Jimmy.”
Ten Hag said: “Ah, he’s going to take you out for a Christmas party. I tell you, that will be quite a big party!”
Hasselbaink could be getting a reputation for lateness, given this wasn’t the first time he had been ribbed live on Sky for his tardiness. Back in November 2020 the former Chelsea striker showed up late to the studio to cover Southampton's home clash against United and Chelsea vs Tottenham in the Premier League.
Introducing a segment, presenter Dave Jones said “We’re delighted to welcome Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. What do you think, a weeks’ wages, Roy?” Fellow pundit Roy Keane said: “Two weeks.”
Jones added: “The lockdown traffic is a nightmare isn’t it Jim?” With a smile on his face, Hasselbaink said: “Fair enough guys, fair enough.”
Once he did arrive, it was Hasselbaink’s job to analyse yet another Chelsea defeat. Lampard’s side had their chances at Old Trafford, but were well beaten and sit 12th in the Premier League, with just 43 points from 37 games.
“In a way they looked defeated,” Hasselbaink said. “Individual mistakes came into play and it went from bad to worse. There’s a big job to be done for whoever comes in. We all think that it’s [Mauricio] Pochettino but there is a big, big job to be done on the character first and foremost, on how they have to play and also on what you have to give on the pitch. That was a little bit disappointing in the second half.”
