Ajax technical manager Gerry Hamstra has insisted the club are trying to persuade head coach Erik ten Hag to stay in Amsterdam despite expectations that he will soon join Manchester United.
Ten Hag, 52, is believed to be United’s number one choice to become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent successor, with reports suggesting his appointment could be confirmed later this month.
But, speaking ahead of Ajax’s 2-1 KNVB Beker final loss to PSV Eindhoven on Sunday, Hamstra – who replaced Marc Overmars earlier this year – said there was still a chance Ten Hag would remain in supposed.
“There is interest in Erik ten Hag, that is normal. He has done fantastic,” Hamstra told ESPN.
“We hope he stays. We have to stick to the facts, it’s not gone yet. He is still focusing on Ajax, so are we.
“We did everything possible [to keep him at Ajax]. We were very busy with that. She reacted by saying that now she is focusing on Ajax. Now we are preparing for two scenarios, Ten Hag could stay or he could go.”
KNVB Beker had been one of Ajax’s two main remaining targets this season (they sit four points above PSV at the top of the Eredivisie), but Sunday’s final ended in disappointment.
Ajax took a lead in the 23rd minute when Ryan Gravenberch scored from outside the box, but, after Noussair Mazraoui canceled out a second Ajax goal via VAR, PSV turned it around with two goals in three minutes early in the second half. .
Erick Gutierrez shot on goal after Ibrahim Sangare denied a Cody Gakpo free kick and two minutes later Gakpo added a second.
Ajax had chances to equalize – a Davy Klaassen shot was ruled out for offside after another VAR review – before Dusan Tadic saw his shot deflected off the post.
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