Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has held talks to become the next coach of Manchester United. EPA
Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has held talks to become the next coach of Manchester United. EPA
Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has held talks to become the next coach of Manchester United. EPA
Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has held talks to become the next coach of Manchester United. EPA

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Football

Pep Guardiola says Erik ten Hag would be an ideal choice to take over at Manchester City

Dutch coach, currently the favourite to take over at Man United, worked with Guardiola at Bayern Munich

The National

April 02, 2022

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Manchester City manager Pep Guadiola has said that Erik ten Hag – favourite to become the next coach of Manchester United – would be an ideal choice to take over at the Etihad Stadium.

Ten Hag, the current manager of Dutch side Ajax, has been heavily linked with a move to replace Ralf Rangnick at United with the 52-year-old having held talks with the Old Trafford club.

On Friday, the Ten Hag said his “focus is currently only on Ajax” but did say he did not want to “rule anything out” concerning his future.

But now Guardiola, who worked with Ten Hag at Bayern Munich, has said that he would fit in well at City when the Spaniard eventually leaves.

The City manager, who is contracted until the end of next season, said at a press conference: “Are you asking me if Erik Ten Hag could be here? Definitely.

“A lot could be here and I think he could be one of the ones. For the way he approaches the game, definitely, definitely. I will say [it] to [director of football] Txiki [Begiristain] now!”

Ten Hag, who led Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and is chasing a third Eredivisie title this season, was previously reserve manager at Bayern while Guardiola was in charge of the first team.

Manchester City 4 Manchester United 1: player ratings

MAN CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 7: Out quickly to save at feet of Fred and prevent United grabbing instant first-half leveller. No chance with sublime Sancho finish. Getty
MAN CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 7: Out quickly to save at feet of Fred and prevent United grabbing instant first-half leveller. No chance with sublime Sancho finish. Getty
Kyle Walker - 7: Launched some marauding runs down right flank that didn’t always end with a decent final product. Solid performance though. EPA
Kyle Walker - 7: Launched some marauding runs down right flank that didn’t always end with a decent final product. Solid performance though. EPA
John Stones - 7: England defender was kept on toes despite United not employing a recognised centre-forward but not exactly over-worked. A stroll in park in second half. AP
John Stones - 7: England defender was kept on toes despite United not employing a recognised centre-forward but not exactly over-worked. A stroll in park in second half. AP
Aymeric Laporte - 7: Assured night’s work from Spain defender who was rarely troubled by a United attack lacking a cutting edge. Getty
Aymeric Laporte - 7: Assured night’s work from Spain defender who was rarely troubled by a United attack lacking a cutting edge. Getty
Joao Cancelo - 8: Vital tracking back and challenge on Elanga as United man lined-up shot on goal after 60 minutes. Saw acrobatic volley saved by De Gea with 10 minutes left. EPA
Joao Cancelo - 8: Vital tracking back and challenge on Elanga as United man lined-up shot on goal after 60 minutes. Saw acrobatic volley saved by De Gea with 10 minutes left. EPA
Rodri - 7: Arguably slow to react when Sancho was able to ghost inside and level for United, but let’s give benefit of doubt to quality of United winger. Looked a level above United’s central midfielders throughout. Reuters
Rodri - 7: Arguably slow to react when Sancho was able to ghost inside and level for United, but let’s give benefit of doubt to quality of United winger. Looked a level above United’s central midfielders throughout. Reuters
Jack Grealish - 7: Involved in move for early City goal and helped drive City forward from midfield. Former Villa man learning to play in a team where he is not the main attacking threat. Getty
Jack Grealish - 7: Involved in move for early City goal and helped drive City forward from midfield. Former Villa man learning to play in a team where he is not the main attacking threat. Getty
Kevin de Bruyne - 9: Dream start with low finish after just five minutes for 50th Premier League goal. Denied another by smart De Gea save, then did lash home second just before half-hour mark. Picked out Mahrez with perfect corner for third goal. Big game from a big-game player. Getty
Kevin de Bruyne - 9: Dream start with low finish after just five minutes for 50th Premier League goal. Denied another by smart De Gea save, then did lash home second just before half-hour mark. Picked out Mahrez with perfect corner for third goal. Big game from a big-game player. Getty
Bernardo Silva - 8: Portuguese’s cut-back supplied De Bruyne with opening goal and provided cross for Foden’s header that bit bar. His blocked shot fell for De Bruyne to score his second. Getty
Bernardo Silva - 8: Portuguese’s cut-back supplied De Bruyne with opening goal and provided cross for Foden’s header that bit bar. His blocked shot fell for De Bruyne to score his second. Getty
Riyad Mahrez - 8: Had low strike superbly saved by De Gea just before break. Curled shot from edge of box over bar just before hour. First-time finish on half-volley made it 3-1 via slight deflection and scored second in injury-time after tight offside call from VAR went in his favour. PA
Riyad Mahrez - 8: Had low strike superbly saved by De Gea just before break. Curled shot from edge of box over bar just before hour. First-time finish on half-volley made it 3-1 via slight deflection and scored second in injury-time after tight offside call from VAR went in his favour. PA
Phil Foden - 9: Felt he should have had penalty after wrestling match with Maguire but foul given other way. Clipped top of bar with header, had shot saved by De Gea in run-up to De Bruyne’s second, then dragged another chance wide in breathless first half. Reuters
Phil Foden - 9: Felt he should have had penalty after wrestling match with Maguire but foul given other way. Clipped top of bar with header, had shot saved by De Gea in run-up to De Bruyne’s second, then dragged another chance wide in breathless first half. Reuters
SUBS: Ilkay Gundogan – (On for De Bruyne 80’) N/A. Scuffed chance to make it 4-1 wide of target. Reuters
SUBS: Ilkay Gundogan – (On for De Bruyne 80’) N/A. Scuffed chance to make it 4-1 wide of target. Reuters
MAN UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 7: No chance for the opener. Good save from De Bruyne on 17. Dived to save from Mahrez on 44, but couldn’t save the deflected third from the same player. He was fuming at that. Saved from Cancelo’s overhead kick. Faced 10 shots on target. EPA
MAN UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 7: No chance for the opener. Good save from De Bruyne on 17. Dived to save from Mahrez on 44, but couldn’t save the deflected third from the same player. He was fuming at that. Saved from Cancelo’s overhead kick. Faced 10 shots on target. EPA
Aaron wan-Bissaka - 5: City attacked towards him on their left, with Silva and Grealish a continual danger. Didn’t stop cross for the first. Involved in United’s equaliser, a highlight early on as his teammates threw the towel in. AP
Aaron wan-Bissaka - 5: City attacked towards him on their left, with Silva and Grealish a continual danger. Didn’t stop cross for the first. Involved in United’s equaliser, a highlight early on as his teammates threw the towel in. AP
Victor Lindelof - 5: Tough for him on the right against the bulk of City’s attacks and could have done better for both City’s first half goals. Too much space around him, which City exploited. Reuters
Victor Lindelof - 5: Tough for him on the right against the bulk of City’s attacks and could have done better for both City’s first half goals. Too much space around him, which City exploited. Reuters
Harry Maguire - 5: Blocked a 15th minute De Bruyne attack. Battled with Foden but United’s central defenders remain an issue and he could have put the ball out for the second. Booked for a late challenge on De Bruyne, who’d bested him all game. Deflected the ball past De Gea for City’s third. Captained a side who gave up and that’s unforgivable. Getty
Harry Maguire - 5: Blocked a 15th minute De Bruyne attack. Battled with Foden but United’s central defenders remain an issue and he could have put the ball out for the second. Booked for a late challenge on De Bruyne, who’d bested him all game. Deflected the ball past De Gea for City’s third. Captained a side who gave up and that’s unforgivable. Getty
Alex Telles - 5: Not close enough to De Bruyne for the opener. Far quieter for him compared to Wan Bissaka on the other side, but Mahrez cut inside too easily against him. Swung to shoot on 45 but shot blocked. Reuters
Alex Telles - 5: Not close enough to De Bruyne for the opener. Far quieter for him compared to Wan Bissaka on the other side, but Mahrez cut inside too easily against him. Swung to shoot on 45 but shot blocked. Reuters
Scott McTominay - 5: Up against it in the first half. Blocked a 48th minute shot from Silva. Blocked a Foden pass into the box but slow to get back for City’s third. Or was it the fourth? Outclassed by a very good team. Like the rest. Getty
Scott McTominay - 5: Up against it in the first half. Blocked a 48th minute shot from Silva. Blocked a Foden pass into the box but slow to get back for City’s third. Or was it the fourth? Outclassed by a very good team. Like the rest. Getty
Fred - 5: Super feet to beat two defenders and get United’s first effort on target. Helped attacks but passed a ball back 60 yards which led to a City free-kick. Man of the match here two years ago. No United players were in the best 10 players on the pitch in this game. PA
Fred - 5: Super feet to beat two defenders and get United’s first effort on target. Helped attacks but passed a ball back 60 yards which led to a City free-kick. Man of the match here two years ago. No United players were in the best 10 players on the pitch in this game. PA
Jadon Sancho - 6: Super curling shot against his former club for the equaliser on 21. Leaned back and rushed a 41st minute chance which was easier than the one for his goal. Positive first half. Nothing in the second, like his team. PA
Jadon Sancho - 6: Super curling shot against his former club for the equaliser on 21. Leaned back and rushed a 41st minute chance which was easier than the one for his goal. Positive first half. Nothing in the second, like his team. PA
Anthony Elanga - 6: Kept wide and gave the ball away which led to City’s second. Productive first half though. Played deeper to help Wan Bissaka in the second half. Looked a threat until he went off after 63 but gave a couple of balls away. Getty
Anthony Elanga - 6: Kept wide and gave the ball away which led to City’s second. Productive first half though. Played deeper to help Wan Bissaka in the second half. Looked a threat until he went off after 63 but gave a couple of balls away. Getty
Paul Pogba - 5: Played up front alongside Fernandes. Beautiful ball and link play to set up the first. Gave ball away on 39 after a spell of United possession – and did that too often. Faded in the second half, but his team were still weaker without him. EPA
Paul Pogba - 5: Played up front alongside Fernandes. Beautiful ball and link play to set up the first. Gave ball away on 39 after a spell of United possession – and did that too often. Faded in the second half, but his team were still weaker without him. EPA
Bruno Fernandes - 6: Played more advanced with the intention to stop City playing out. Clever overlap run helped Sancho for equaliser, then the superior talents of superior opponents took over for the second Manchester derby this season. PA
Bruno Fernandes - 6: Played more advanced with the intention to stop City playing out. Clever overlap run helped Sancho for equaliser, then the superior talents of superior opponents took over for the second Manchester derby this season. PA
Jesse Lingard – (On for Elanga 64’) 4: First touch of the ball came six minutes after joining. His second came 19 minutes later. And that was it. Two touches as his side were toyed with. EPA
Jesse Lingard – (On for Elanga 64’) 4: First touch of the ball came six minutes after joining. His second came 19 minutes later. And that was it. Two touches as his side were toyed with. EPA
SUBS: Marcus Rashford – (On for Pogba 64’) 4: On as United shifted formation. Ran into four City players when left alone in a 70th minute City attack. Nothing else. EPA
SUBS: Marcus Rashford – (On for Pogba 64’) 4: On as United shifted formation. Ran into four City players when left alone in a 70th minute City attack. Nothing else. EPA

Guardiola, whose City side take on Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, said: “We spoke quite regularly and he is just an incredible person and human being. I was surprised at how humble he was.

“For his qualities, just take a look at his Ajax team in the last years. It is a joy to watch and in many games, not just the year they got to the Champions League semi-final – but with little details they would have reached that final.

“The relationship we had was good, especially when we talked about football and the second team, and with players he was exceptional.”

City are currently top of the Premier League but have seen their lead cut down to just one point by Liverpool. United, who are sixth, face Leicester City at Old Trafford later on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola has been Manchester City manager since 2016. Reuters
Pep Guardiola has been Manchester City manager since 2016. Reuters
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Updated: April 02, 2022, 5:45 AM`
Premier LeagueManchester CityPep GuardiolaManchester United