Erik ten Hag swerves Man Utd 'rumours' after Ajax defeat Sparta Rotterdam | OneFootball

Erik ten Hag sidestepped any talk of the Manchester United job in the wake of Ajax’s 2-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday.

The hosts fell behind to a fine Joeri de Kamps strike at the Johan Cruyff Arena, but second-half goals from Davy Klaassenn and Dušan Tadić (penalty) secured all three points.

Media reports in Britain during the week claimed that ten Hag will take over at Old Trafford in the summer after impressing during the recent interview process.

But the 51-year-old had no interest in discussing the matter.

“There are always rumours about Ajax players and trainers,” ten Hag told ESPN (via Voetbal International).

“We don’t talk about that together. We’re talking about the games we need to focus on. And now a nice one is coming, a final.”

Nicolás Tagliafico could be a doubt for the KNVB Cup decider against PSV next Sunday after he was forced off with a leg injury.

However, ten Hag seem reasonably confident the Argentina international would recover in time.

“The situation with Tagliafico was unprecedented,” the Ajax boss said.

“He gets a big kick in the corner. Sparta also gets a very big chance. We await his injury. It’s a big flesh wound, but I don’t think it’s debatable for the cup final.”

Victory over Sparta saw Ajax open up a seven-point lead atop the Eredivisie, though PSV can narrow the gap when they travel to RKC Waalwijk on Sunday.