Here is a full transcript of Erik ten Hag’s interview that has upset Manchester United officials.
Interviewer: “Have you been able to recover a bit over the past few weeks? Obviously, it’s been turbulent.
ETH: “It’s been a tumultuous season, a very turbulent year of course.
Interviewer: “But it is never dull right?
ETH: “No, never a dull moment at Manchester United.”
Interviewer: “But have you been able to have a little vacation?
ETH: “Yes, but this week, they really threw a spanner in the works because then, out of nowhere, they suddenly showed up right on our doorstep.
Interviewer: “At your place?”
ETH: “Mine, yes. They wanted to continue with me.”
Interviewer: “How did that go? How did you experience those weeks, then? Because your position was unclear, they were considering whether to continue with you.
ETH: “Yes, I think as in any organisation I think that is very wise that you evaluate and draw conclusions from there that’s what Manchester United did.
“The leadership, the new leadership, who are in football for the first time have taken extensive time to evaluate things.”
Interviewer: “The men of Ineos, actually, tell me everything because, for example, the story goes that Thomas Tuchel was also approached during that period. Do they tell all that, or is it also just go ahead now, and we don’t look back?
ETH: “No they did indeed tell me that. But anywhere I don’t think that is a secret either because everyone got to know that they talked to several candidates.”
Interviewer: “How did that come across to you?”
ETH: “Well, look in the Netherlands that is still thin we have CDV here and that’s not allowed at all.
“You are not even allowed to talk to another club the moment the trainer is an incumbent.
“Well, the rules are a little different, and they did that, but in the end, they came to the conclusion that they had the best trainer.”
Interviewer: “And in between they were at the door or they called?2
ETH: “Yes, they came to Ibiza.”
Interviewer: “You yourself still had the idea of, well, I don’t know if I want to go on then myself?”
ETH: “We had a good talk and various topics were discussed and the conclusion was that we will continue with each other but also the conclusion is that we are going to sit down to renew the contract.”
Interviewer: “Okay, so the air is cleared, and you go because you have another year’s contract, and you’re going to renew now?
ETH: “Well of course, we absolutely have to come to some sort of agreement.”
Interviewer: “Well, congratulations, already almost then, right? Or you say, well, that’s not done one, two, three just yet?”
ETH: “No that’s not one, two, three done yet, we still have to talk about that.”