English media banned from Ten Hag press conference, as Van Persie makes big Man Utd decision

The English media have been banned from the press conference of Erik ten Hag on Saturday, while Robin van Persie will not jump ship at Feyenoord to join the Ajax boss at Manchester United, claims a report.

Ten Hag is heavily fancied to succeed Ralf Rangnick at old Trafford at the end of the season. ESPN state the 52-year-old is ready to make the step up with Manchester United ‘set to finalise’ his appointment as their next manager.

The Dutchman had emerged as one of the two leading candidates to land the job alongside PSG’s Mauricio Pochettino.

Now with the scrutiny surrounding Ten Hag intense, Ajax have banned all English media from attending the post-match press conference.

Ajax are keen to shut out the noise from Old Trafford. Instead they want Ten Hag to focus on winning the Eredivisie. They have eight games to go and are four points clear of PSV and face Sparta Rotterdam tonight.

The Ajax club’s hierarchy clearly do not want Ten Hag to take his eye off the ball and want him to deliver the third title of his tenure.

Sky Sports News reporter Gary Cotterill told the broadcaster, as cited by the Daily Express: “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.

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“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.”

Meanwhile, Ten Hag has been interviewed twice for the Old Trafford role. He is already believed to have told United that he wants overall control on transfers. And the make up of his backroom will also have been discussed.

Van Persie to turn down Ten Hag offer

A number of assistant managers have been mentioned as target for Ten Hag.

Former United assistant Steve McClaren is believed to be a candidate, but names such as Rene Meulensteen, Peter Bosz and Van Persie have also been mentioned.

Ex-United star Ruud van Nistelrooy was also a name thrown into the ring. But he has since agreed a deal to become PSV’s new coach from next season.

And Van Persie, another United old boy, will also turn his back on an emotional return to Manchester.

According to ESPN reporter Joost van Gangelen, as stated by Soccernews, Van Persie will stay with Feyenoord. 

He would not see a return to Manchester United as an option for the time being.

Van Persie is currently the assistant coach of Feyenoord, but he also works in the academy. The 38-year-old also has a son who is developig in the youth set-up at the club.

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