UCL

Erik ten Hag puts Manchester United on high alert after crashing out against Benfica

Damola Ogungbe 05:54 - 16 March 2022

Erik ten Hag (IMAGO/ANP)

Erik ten Hag is one of the frontrunners for the United job with Mauricio Pochettino, Zinedine Zidane and Brendan Rodgers all on the list

Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has fuelled rumours linking him with a summer move to Manchester United by admitting that he already speaks the English language.

The Dutch coach is one of the names linked with the United job alongside other candidates such as Mauricio Pochettino, Ralf Hassenhuttl, Brendan Rodgers, and Zinedine Zidane.

Ralf Rangnick is Manchester United's new interim manager

Ralf Rangnick is expected to step down from the interim manager role at the end of the season

Current interim manager Ralf Rangnick was knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, on the same night that Ten Hag's Ajax fell to Benfica.

Erik ten Hag confirms he speaks English already

Ten Hag, while speaking with BT Sport, refuted the claims that he has started taking English lessons, stating that he already speaks the language due to the number of foreign nationals in his team at Ajax.

"No, that's not true! We talk English in the club because we have a lot of foreign players in Holland you get educated in English," Ten Hag said.

The 52-year-old manager is said to be the favourite to take the Manchester United coaching job after impressing with Ajax both in the Champions League and the Dutch Eredivisie.

Ajax coach Erik Ten Hag leads his squad in training on the eve of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Tottenham Hotspur

Ten Hag leads his squad in training on the eve of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Tottenham Hotspur in 2019

However, Ten Hag is keeping tight-lipped over the matter after he dismissed further questions concerning his future.

"I don't think it today the issue. It's about today's game I focus on that and I don't pay any attention to other subjects," Erk ten Hag concluded.

Manchester United are now out of all cup competitions this season with a four-way battle for the last Top 4 position on the English Premier League log.