Ajax 'ban the English media' from attending Ten Hag's press conference
Ajax ‘BAN English journalists’ from attending Erik ten Hag’s post-match press conference with the Dutchman closing in on the Man United job because they ‘want him to focus on the Eredivisie title race’ and not discuss a move away
- Erik ten Hag is closing in on being appointed Manchester United manager
- Sportsmail reported this week that formal talks were underway with Ajax
- The Dutch side face Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday amid the Eredivisie title race
- But the English media will not be allowed to attend Ten Hag’s press conference
Ajax have reportedly banned the English media from attending manager and Manchester United candidate Erik ten Hag’s press conference on Saturday.
The Dutchman appears to be edging closer to the managerial vacancy at Old Trafford this week with the Red Devils reportedly close to appointing him.
Talks are underway with Ajax to secure the terms for his release with United paying compensation of just over £1.6million to secure his services.
Ajax have banned the English media from manager Erik ten Hag’s press conference
Ten Hag’s move to the club is likely to be confirmed before the end of the season, with United chiefs believing he is the right man to take the club back to the top.
The 52-year-old has reportedly won the battle with PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino, ending a near six-month search to appoint a permanent replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
However, Ajax do not appear too happy with the speculation currently surrounding their manager and seem keen to limit questions being asked of Ten Hag about his future.
The Eredivisie side continue their push for the title when they face Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday and will look to extend their four-point lead over PSV.
The Dutchman is closing in on the Manchester United manager’s job with talks ongoing
However, the English media will not be able to attend Ten Hag’s pos-match press conference as Ajax chiefs want his focus to be on winning his third title with the club.
Sky Sports News reporter Gary Cotterill, via The Express, said: ‘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.
‘They don’t want him asked, in English, about Manchester United. His English isn’t that great, either.
‘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.
Ajax reportedly want the manager to be focused on winning his third Eredivisie title
‘It is a bit worrying that he is not doing any [English] media duties tomorrow 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.’
Ahead of United’s clash with Everton on Saturday, United’s interim manager Ralf Rangnick also appeared keen to avoid the subject of the club’s future boss.
‘This is the press conference for tomorrow’s game and I don’t intend to speak about any possible new managers here,’ Rangnick said.
United’s interim boss Ralf Rangnick was also keen to avoid the subject of the club’s future boss
But the German insisted that every coach interviewed is a ‘top manager’ and singled out Ten Hag.
‘From what I know, all the managers the club has spoken to so far are top managers, top coaches and this is true of Erik ten Hag,’ he said.
‘That’s all I can say at this stage. For me it’s about preparing the team for tomorrow’s game and hopefully three points tomorrow.’
He added: ‘I know with which coaches they have spoken so far, they are all top coaches, but again my focus is on tomorrow, the game tomorrow and the upcoming games after tomorrow’s game.’
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