ERIK TEN HAG has revealed why Manchester United have opted to keep him as manager.
The Red Devils were thought to be on the cusp of sacking the Dutchman after a poor season.
United finished eighth in the Premier League and suffered disappointing exits in the Champions League and League Cup.
But Ten Hag, 54, did lead the club to a shock FA Cup triumph which appeared to give him more credit.
The club spoke to managers such as Thomas Tuchel about the role but have opted to stick by Ten Hag.
The former Ajax boss confirmed that he was told that the club spoke to Tuchel.
However, he insisted that United believed that he was better suited to the job.
He said on Dutch TV: “Manchester United and I still have to find an agreement for the new contract.
“This isn’t easily done, we are still going to have to talk about this.
“United have told me that they spoke with [Thomas] Tuchel, but they eventually came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager.”
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Ten Hag also revealed that the club told him he would be staying in the job while he was on holiday.
He added: “Manchester United disturbed my holiday, they suddenly stood at my doorstep. They flew to me in Ibiza.
“INOES took their time. They are new in football, it’s normal to reflect the season. It’s no secret that they talked with multiple candidates.
“Here in Holland this is ‘not done,’ in fact, it’s not even allowed here.
“But in England they have different rules and laws.
“As in any organisation, and that seems very sensible to me, there is an evaluation.
“Conclusions were drawn from there. The new leadership is playing football for the first time.”
By Neil Custis
After Manchester United announced Erik ten Hag was staying on, they tried to explain why it has taken over two weeks since the Dutchman paraded the FA Cup at Wembley to actually tell him he still had the job.
A thorough review of the season was needed even though Ten Hag said before the Cup final that this had been done.
The club said that they had ‘considered all eventualities’.
In other words ‘which manager would be best for us, and not necessarily the bloke we have got?’.
And the club were also at pains to make it clear how much they admired Ten Hag’s ‘dedication, dignity and professionalism’.
In other words he did not publicly flip his lid at the appalling way he was being treated despite asking Ratcliffe for a public vote of confidence months before the end of the season.
Let us remember Ratcliffe did not even namecheck Ten Hag in his ‘congratulations message’ after the FA Cup was won, despite the fact it was all down to him and the way he outthought Pep Guardiola on the day.
Read the full column from Neil Custis on Manchester United.
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