Ajax manager Erik ten Hag called an end to a post-match press conference when the subject of his future was raised in the light of his team's cup final defeat against PSV Eindhoven.
The Dutchman has reached an agreement in principle to take over at Manchester United next season, but has been reluctant to speak about his future with his current club fighting for honours. Ajax had banned English media from his press conferences, while the manager also sidestepped a question about United ahead of the final.
Ten Hag made some big calls ahead of the final, most notably leaving top scorer Sebastien Haller on the bench. Things looked to be going well for the Amsterdam side when Ryan Gravenberch gave them a half-time lead, but second-half goals from Erick Gutierrez and Cody Gakpo swung the game back in PSV's favour.
"I am at the service of Ajax and will answer questions only about that," Ten Hag had said before the game. I am not afraid [to talk about United], but please if you have questions about Ajax or the KNVB Beker I will answer. I will not talk about the future".
When the question was raised again after the game, the 52-year-old was blunt. “I think this is the time to end the press conference. I will need 24 hours to recover from this,” he said.
While Ten Hag himself has remained tight-lipped, that hasn't been the case with everyone at the club. Captain Dusan Tadic has addressed the subject, saying he hoped the manager would stay, while technical director Gerry Hamstra said the club had done everything they could to keep thge manager around.
Will Erik ten Hag be a success in England? Have your say in the comments section
“There should have been only one team with the cup, that is Ajax," Ten Hag told Voetbal International (via Goal ) after his team's double hopes were dashed. Ajax remain four points clear at the top, but their cup final defeat follows a Champions League last 16 exit at the hands of Benfica.
“We do that to ourselves, we make two very big mistakes," he continued. "While we had said to each other that you have to stay 100 per cent focused.
"It wasn’t supposed to be, those are the forces and powers in football. It wasn’t easy, but you also have to enforce it yourself."
Haller wasn't the only senior figure left out, and the Ivorian international did at least come off the bench for the final 20 minutes. Andre Onana was left out entirely, though, with Ten Hag insisting the goalkeeper was injured amid questions over the fitness of a man who has been in and out of the side this term.
Ajax now need to bounce back quickly if they want to retain their league title. Next up for them is a trip to Nijmegen to face NEC, and three points will take them one step closer to glory.
