Erik ten Hag hit out at his players after Ajax allowed PSV Eindhoven to come from behind and win the KNVB Cup final on Sunday.
The Mirror understands Ten Hag has a verbal agreement with Manchester United to take over from Ralf Rangnick this summer, but has remained focused on finishing the season with Ajax. The 52-year-old’s preparations for the cup final against rivals PSV has been disrupted by talk of his future and it did not go to plan.
Ajax took the lead in the 23rd minute through midfielder Ryan Gravenberch’s low strike and dominated the first half, with Noussair Mazraoui seeing a second goal ruled out by VAR for offside in the build-up. Ten Hag’s side were made to rue their missed chances when PSV equalised straight after the break.
Erick Gutierrez headed in from a set piece in the 48th minute and the turnaround was completed just two minutes later when Cody Gakpo intercepted a poor pass by Lisandro Martinez and fired past Maarten Stekelenburg. Ajax pushed hard for a second goal but Davy Klaassen had a goal ruled out by VAR, while Dusan Tadic hit the post and Perr Schuurs had an effort saved by Yvon Mvogo.
Ten Hag brought on Sebastien Haller and Mohamed Ihattaren in search of an equaliser, but Ajax came up short – much to the annoyance of their manager. “There should have been only one team with the cup, that is Ajax,” he told Voetball International.
“We do that to ourselves, we make two very big mistakes. While we had said to each other that you have to stay 100 per cent focused. You have to defend much better, you can never let Gakpo come in, that’s where his qualities lie. There are two people standing by, you have to keep him on the left.”
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He added: “We score a great goal with Klaassen, just offside. And a shot from Tadic on the post. 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.”
Ten Hag has previously won league and cup doubles with Ajax in 2018/19 and 2020/21 and was hoping to repeat the trick this season. Ajax are four points clear of PSV in the Eredivisie with five games left to play, but the KNVB Cup defeat has prevented a fairy tale finish for Ten Hag before he leaves for Old Trafford.
The Dutchman has been bombarded with questions over his future in recent weeks, but has steadfastly refused to answer them. “I am at the service of Ajax and will answer questions only about that,” he said in the build-up to 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.”
Ajax technical director Gerry Hamstra has confirmed that the club have tried their best to keep Ten Hag. "We have done everything we can and are doing everything we can to keep him on board,” he told ESPN. “Contract extension offered? Yes. More money? Everything that comes with it, without going into detail."
