Erik ten Hag saw big calls BACKFIRE as Ajax lose the Dutch Cup final

Erik ten Hag was in no mood to discuss his imminent move to Manchester United in the wake of Ajax’s loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Cup final.

‘I think this is the time to end the press conference,’ said the Ajax boss when the subject was raised. ‘I will need 24 hours to recover from this.’

His team were floored by two goals in the space of three minutes shortly after half-time after a well-taken Ryan Gravenberch goal put them ahead.

It means Ten Hag won’t sign off in Amsterdam by winning another Double but Ajax can still win the league title.

Sportsmail takes a look at what we learned about Ten Hag from Ajax’s final defeat.

Big selection calls

Any United fans wondering if Ten Hag has the courage of his convictions got a big clue when the teamsheets were handed in.

Sebastien Haller, Ajax’s principal striker with 33 goals in 37 outings this season, was dropped to the bench for this showpiece match and replaced with the largely untried 20-year-0ld Brian Brobbey.

The usual first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana was left out the squad entirely amid an ongoing row about his fitness levels.

Ten Hag, in a pre-match TV interview, was challenged three times by on his pre-match assertion that Onana was injured. Ten Hag repeated himself three times before fixing his interviewer a steely glare. End of debate.

United’s stars beware - fail to live up to Ten Hag’s expectations and you’ll be cut. He is known to pick his team based on top performers in training on any given week, there will be no slacking.

He brought on Haller with 18 minutes to go as Ajax chased an equaliser - an admission he got the call wrong, perhaps.

Touchline manner

Dressed in suit jacket and sweater on a boiling afternoon in Rotterdam, Ten Hag cut a largely