Erik ten Hag makes brutal admission about Manchester United and the Champions League

Erik ten Hag has admitted Manchester United's failure to qualify for the Champions League is 'painful'.

United announced the appointment of Ten Hag on a three-year contract with the option of an additional year last month and his arrival at Old Trafford is now imminent. The Eredivisie season is officially over and Ajax are Dutch champions again.

Ten Hag will be hoping to bring some of that good feeling to Manchester. United have endured a bleak season - the club equalled their longest trophy drought for 40 years - and Ten Hag is set to take on the biggest challenge of his career.

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United have failed to qualify for the Champions League but they will play some sort of European football next season. Depending on the outcome of the Crystal Palace fixture, United will qualify for the Europa League or Europa Conference League.

Ten Hag was asked about United's failure to qualify for the Champions League on Sunday and he admitted it was 'painful'.

"Manchester United will not play the Champions League next season," Ten Hag told Parool.

"Painful for United, but also for me. It's a competition I'm going to miss incredibly. But the fact that I'm going to work in the Premier League makes up for a lot. United has an enormous reach, worldwide.

"I think I will encounter the same force fields at United as at Ajax, only a factor of three or four larger. There is something to gain. And the way that should be done, the club and I agree on that."

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