Ten Hag Skipping Ajax Post-season Trip to Start Work on Man Utd Rebuild

Ajax Amsterdam's Dutch coach Erik ten Hag (C) applauds supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie match between Arnhem Vitesse and Ajax Amsterdam in The Gelredome in Arnhem on May 15, 2022. (AFP)
Ajax Amsterdam's Dutch coach Erik ten Hag (C) applauds supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie match between Arnhem Vitesse and Ajax Amsterdam in The Gelredome in Arnhem on May 15, 2022. (AFP)
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Ten Hag Skipping Ajax Post-season Trip to Start Work on Man Utd Rebuild

Ajax Amsterdam's Dutch coach Erik ten Hag (C) applauds supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie match between Arnhem Vitesse and Ajax Amsterdam in The Gelredome in Arnhem on May 15, 2022. (AFP)
Ajax Amsterdam's Dutch coach Erik ten Hag (C) applauds supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie match between Arnhem Vitesse and Ajax Amsterdam in The Gelredome in Arnhem on May 15, 2022. (AFP)

Erik ten Hag said he will not travel with Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam for their post-season trip to Curacao and will instead turn his attention to his new role as Manchester United manager.

Ten Hag, who was named United manager last month to take over from interim boss Ralf Rangnick, arrives at Old Trafford having led Ajax to their third consecutive Eredivisie title.

"Yes, there will be a party with the entire (Ajax) staff but that will be it. I will not be joining them to Curacao. I think that's understandable," Ten Hag said after his final match with Ajax on Sunday, a 2-2 draw at Vitesse.

"There's a lot of work to be done at United. There's a lot of work at every club. A manager's job is especially focused on the preparations for next season. And there's a lot of work to be done in that regard.

"Regarding the staff, there are several things that need to be organized. Also regarding the team and over the next several days, or actually as of Monday, we will be focusing on that intensively."

United, who are sixth in the Premier League, travel to Crystal Palace for the final game of the season on May 22.

Ajax have named Alfred Schreuder as their new coach to replace Ten Hag.



Besiktas to Play Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europa League Match at Neutral, Empty Venue in Hungary

 Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters shout profanities as they go down an escalator in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (Michel Van Bergen/via Reuters)
Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters shout profanities as they go down an escalator in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (Michel Van Bergen/via Reuters)
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Besiktas to Play Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europa League Match at Neutral, Empty Venue in Hungary

 Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters shout profanities as they go down an escalator in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (Michel Van Bergen/via Reuters)
Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters shout profanities as they go down an escalator in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (Michel Van Bergen/via Reuters)

The Europa League match between Türkiye's Besiktas and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, scheduled for Nov. 28, has been moved to a neutral venue in Hungary, UEFA announced on Monday.

The match, originally a home game for Besiktas, will now be played at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary after the Turkish government opted not to host the tie.

The decision follows unrest after Maccabi’s recent Europa League game in Amsterdam, where at least five fans were injured in violent street attacks, after their team’s 5-0 loss to Ajax.

Besiktas said on social media that Hungary was the only country willing to host the match but, due to a decision by Hungarian authorities, the game will be held “behind closed doors”.