Manchester United boss target Erik ten Hag cracks a smile as he is probed about English lessons

Ajax boss Erik ten Hag has denied that he is improving his English in preparation for a summer move to Manchester United.

Ten Hag watched his Ajax side knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday night after a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Benfica. The hosts dominated possession and created numerous chances but Darwin Nunez’s 77th-minute goal saw them lost 3-2 on aggregate.

The 52-year-old has been widely tipped to be in the running for the Manchester United hotseat at the end of the season.

Ten Hag, speaking to BT Sport ahead of the game, was asked about the reports that he has started taking English lessons in anticipation of getting the job at Old Trafford.

“No, that (report) is not true!” said ten Hag.

“We (already) talk English at the club because there are a lot of foreign players in Holland. And they are already educated in English so (it makes sense).”

Ten Hag did drop a smirk after the question. While beforehand he had played down talk he was ready to leave Holland.

Erik ten Hag responds to the rumours linking him to a job away from Ajax… #UCL pic.twitter.com/btWjP4GEjp

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 15, 2022

“I do not think that is an issue today, this evening is all about our match,” he said. “I am focused on that and I do not pay any attention to other subjects. My only focus is Ajax vs Benfica.”

United are planning to make an announcement on their new permanent manager before the end of April.

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That is the latest deadline set by the club, according to the Daily Mail. They suggest that Old Trafford chiefs hope it “will allow their next manager greater scope to be involved in their preparations for the forthcoming window”.

Now though