PSV Eindhoven boss Roger Schmidt is confident Ajax will survive Erik ten Hag’s loss to Manchester United.
Schmidt is hoping his Eredivisie title rivals will find a high-caliber replacement as Ten Hag is reportedly about to move to Old Trafford.
The 52-year-old is in advanced talks to become United’s new permanent manager, although no deal has been reached and no announcement seems likely until after Sunday’s Dutch Cup final between Ajax and PSV.
Schmidt will leave the Philips Stadion at the end of the season after two years in charge and will be replaced by former PSV and Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
PSV are four points behind Ajax in the title race and, ahead of Thursday’s Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg against Leicester on Thursday, Schmidt hopes both Dutch giants will prosper under new managers.
He said: “It always continues in football. It is not about a player or a coach stopping working at a club. In Barcelona, (Lionel) Messi stopped one day and everyone saw that they did not stop playing football. He now he is in another club.
“There will be replacements. I already have it clear, Ruud Van Nistelrooy is the new PSV coach, a great player and a great person.
“There is a very good successor in my position. For Ajax, if he (Ten Hag) really leaves, they will find a very good coach because it is a great club.”
Schmidt has been linked with Benfica but insisted his future will not influence the outcome of Thursday’s clash in Eindhoven after last week’s first leg ended 0-0.
“No, there is nothing to announce,” he said. “My team and I have shown in recent weeks that we are always focused. It’s not like I have to present proof of anything. The players are focused.”
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