Erik Ten Hag’s audition to become Manchester United ’s next manager flopped last night as his Ajax team were unexpectedly turfed out of the Champions League.
Ten Hag, who took Ajax to the semi-finals of the competition in 2019, is highly fancied inside Old Trafford to come in in the summer as United’s new permanent manager, after an impressive stint in charge in Amsterdam. But last night Ten Hag’s team, though they dominated their last 16 tie, missed a hatful of chances and unexpectedly went down to Darwin Nunez’ late strike.
Ajax had only themselves to blame, after twice throwing away the lead in the first leg in Lisbon - and there is no doubt Ten Hag’s team fluffed their chance, just as another candidate in Mauricio Pochettino’s Paris St Germain did, at the same stage last week. Ten Hag had hinted he is ready for a new challenge after becoming frustrated by the huge turnover of players he has to deal with because of Ajax’s policy of selling top talent at the right price - and the constant challenge of having to rebuild his team.
