Ten Hag: New Man Utd contract not ‘easily done’

Erik ten Hag said he has yet to agree a new contract at Manchester United and admitted that it won’t be “easily done” after being told by the club’s new football regime that his job is safe at the Premier League team.

Ten Hag was informed by the Ineos-led football board last week that he would not be fired as manager after winning the FA Cup, despite the team’s eighth-place finish in the league.

But having agreed to retain the former Ajax coach, sources told ESPN that Ineos are ready to extend Ten Hag’s contract beyond the final 12 months of his existing deal.

Ten Hag has now said, however, that further talks are needed with United, who confirmed to him that they had spoken to former Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel about replacing him.

“Manchester United and I still have to find an agreement for the new contract,” Ten Hag told Dutch broadcaster NOS. “This isn’t easily done, we are still going to have to talk about this.

“United have told me that they spoke with Tuchel, but they eventually came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager.”

Ten Hag, who joined United in 2022, said he met club officials on holiday on the Spanish island of Ibiza to resolve his future.

“Manchester United disturbed my holiday, they suddenly stood at my doorstep,” he said. “They flew to me in Ibiza.

“Ineos 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.”