Ajax have reportedly banned English media from attending Erik ten Hag's latest press conference as Manchester United close in on the Dutchman as their new permanent manager.
The Dutch champions are expecting Ten Hag to be appointed, the Manchester Evening News understands, though a deal is yet to be finalised. As interest ramps up, the Eredivisie leaders have reportedly moved to prevent further distractions to their season by denying press conference access requests from "English media" for Saturday's clash with Sparta Rotterdam.
Ajax sit top of the league, four points clear of nearest challengers PSV Eindhoven, with eight games left to play. Relegation-threatened Rotterdam visit the Amsterdam ArenA on Saturday evening, with PSV next in action on Sunday.
Read more: 'Darren Fletcher asked me who the f**k I was' - United fan breaks silence on row
"As Ten Hag was preparing his team to face Sparta Rotterdam, the media team were busily rejecting the applications from the English media to attend the post-match news conference. There will be no radio, no newspapers, no Sky Sports News," Sky Sports News' reporter Gary Cotterill said.
"They don’t want him asked, in English, about Manchester United. Ajax say he needs to concentrate on winning another [Eredivisie] title. It’s by no means a given - they’re only four points ahead [of PSV] with six games to play.
"It is a bit worrying that he is not doing any [English] media duties because maybe he doesn’t want to answer any difficult questions. But if he is to become the Manchester United manager then he is going to have to get used to answering tricky questions twice, sometimes even three times, a week. That could be something for Manchester United fans to worry about."
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
