ERIK TO HOME IN ON PEP
ERIK TEN HAG could become a neighbour of Pep Guardiola after telling Manchester United that he wants to live in the city centre when he takes over at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag has opted to shun the enclave of millionaires who populate the Golden Triangle of Alderley Edge, Pestbury and Wilmslow because he doesn’t want to shut himself away from the fans who have become so disgruntled at the direction United are taking.
He is looking at the plush 16-storey Deansgate Citysuites which already houses Guardiola’s family and his Manchester City stars Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva. The building is on the Salford side of the River Irwell, an area regarded as traditional United territory.
But Guardiola has felt so much at home that he is thinking of extending his contract with City beyond a seventh season, with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2023.
Ten Hag, 52, is known in Holland to value his privacy.
Heart
So United were surprised when he told them that he was planning to live right in the heart of the city.
The Dutchman struck up a good relationship with Guardiola when he was in charge of Bayern Munich’s reserve team during the Catalan’s three-year tenure in Germany.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Louis van Gaal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and current interim United boss Ralf Rangnick all based themselves in Cheshire.
David Moyes continued to live at his family home near Preston during his 10-month spell in charge and Jose Mourinho lived permanently in The Lowry Hotel in the centre of town.
Ten Hag is ready to also live out of a suitcase, but only until a suitable residence is found in Manchester. He has signed a three-year contract with United, although the deal includes the option of a 12-month extension.
The Ajax boss has been tasked with arresting a decline at Old Trafford that accelerated when Ferguson retired in 2013 after winning his 13th Premier League title.