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Erik ten Hag aimed dig at Liverpool rival Arne Slot as Man Utd boss signs new deal
Erik ten Hag will renew acquaintances with Arne Slot this season, with Manchester United committing to its manager by offering a new deal. The former Ajax boss aimed a jab at his Liverpool counterpart mere weeks ago.
In a lukewarm statement of faith, having openly searched for a better option and drawn a blank after numerous rejections, Man United has extended Ten Hag's contract by the grand total of one extra year. His deal now runs through to 2026.
Whether he sees that out remains to be seen. But for the time being, the Slot and Ten Hag rivalry will resume, with the pair meeting in pre-season on August 4 before clashing in the Premier League on August 31.
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The pair previously did battle in the Eredivisie. While Ten Hag got the better of Slot's Feyenoord side, the new Liverpool boss caused Ajax a huge amount of problems while still with AZ Alkmaar.
The two sides were level on points when the Dutch top flight was cancelled in 2020 amid the breakout of the pandemic. Punching well above its financial weight, Slot's AZ side had already completed the double over Ten Hag's team.
Slot belatedly claimed the Eredivisie crown after his move to Feyenoord, by which time Ten Hag had left for Manchester United. But watching from afar, he has claimed not to be overly impressed.
"People have been going overly lyrical about Feyenoord,” Ten Hag moaned, as the 2023/24 season drew to a close. "Feyenoord were steady this year, but not top.
"PSV Eindhoven were two classes better in all areas," he continued, speaking to Voetbal International (via the Mirror). "In terms of dominating the ball, in terms of putting pressure, in terms of intensity, you name it.
“[Peter] Bosz and his staff did that top notch, but the rest of the club is also well put together. PSV Eindhoven were better than the rest by such a long distance, even so much better than Feyenoord.”
No doubt Ten Hag feels a little threatened now he is no longer the flavor of the month from the Eredivisie. Although he did also talk up Slot, albeit getting his excuses in early for why the Liverpool job is "easier":
"This is great for the Dutch trainers’ guild," Ten Hag told Voetbal International after news of Slot's appointment emerged. He was speaking before the FA Cup final.
"Jurgen Klopp and Pepijn Lijnders have left a strong foundation. He ends up in better waters than I did when I went to Manchester United from the Netherlands. In terms of structure in the club, in terms of balance in the squad."
Liverpool.com says: Intentionally or not, Ten Hag has stoked the rivalry that little bit more before things have even got going. But as managers of Liverpool and Manchester United, there was always going to be some tension anyway.
Everything about his new deal at Old Trafford reeks of a situation handled poorly. It's clear that Ten Hag has not suddenly won wholehearted backing overnight, and so he continues with a sword dangling over his head, with the milquetoast contract symbolic of the unsteady truce.
