NOW, IT’S ABOUT UNITED
AMSTERDAM. - Edwin van der Sar paid tribute to Erik ten Hag on the pitch after Ajax sealed the Eredivisie title as the Dutchman prepares to leave the club to join Manchester United.
Ajax were crowned Dutch champions in style on Wednesday as they thrashed Heerenveen 5-0 at the Johan Cruyff Arena, giving Old Trafford-bound Ten Hag the perfect send-off.
Victory handed Ten Hag his third title from four completed campaigns with the club.
Once he has recovered from Ajax’s title celebrations, no doubt he will watch the tape of Manchester United’s Youth Cup final 3-1 win on Wednesday night.
Someone as meticulous as the incoming manager will be eager to see the next generation at Old Trafford and how they’re coming along. United won the FA Youth Cup for a record 11th time in front of the biggest crowd in the competition’s 70-year history.
The 67 492 at Old Trafford, for the victory over Nottingham Forest, was almost 30 000 more than the previous best, at Arsenal in 2007. Sir Alex Ferguson was in the stands, along with current United first-team players Bruno Fernandes, David de Gea and Harry Maguire, to see Alejandro Garnacho score a decisive double in the final 13 minutes.
Garnacho, called up to the senior Argentina squad in March, kept his cool to send Aaron Bott the wrong way from a controversial penalty, awarded despite the forward being brought down outside the area by Zach Abbott following the Forest defender’s miscontrol.
After Garnacho scored, he marked the goal with a Cristiano Ronaldo-style celebration by shouting ‘‘siuuu’’ - a drawn-out version of the Portuguese word for ‘‘yes’’.
Garnacho then sealed a record 11th triumph in the competition for United in stoppage time when he darted into the box, then benefited from a massive deflection as the ball flew into the corner.
It was harsh on Forest and their 5 700-strong travelling support, who goaded United with a “you’re not famous any more” chant during the opening period.
Forest first-team boss Steve Cooper, who will lead his side in their Championship playoff semi-final against Sheffield United on Saturday, was also in attendance.
In Amsterdam, Ten Hag spoke to thank his players and the fans before Van der Sar took the microphone.
Manchester United legend and Ajax chief executive Van der Sar said Ten Hag would leave with his best wishes in an emotional message to his departing manager.
“Erik, sometimes I thought ‘you are a weird man,’ but you surpassed all expectations, dominant football, semi-final Champions League, league titles.
“You will leave for a club that is close to my heart. I wish you all the best there. Thank you, Erik ten Hag!”
Van der Sar revealed on the day Ten Hag’s appointment at Old Trafford was confirmed that Ajax were reluctant to lose their manager.
“Four and a half years is a good amount of time, but we would have liked to have kept Erik at Ajax for longer,” he said.
Ten Hag won three Eredivisie titles, two KNVB Cups and the Johan Cruyff Shield, and oversaw Ajax’s stunning run to the semi-finals of the 2018-19 Champions League, in his four-and-a-half years in charge of the club. Mailonline/BBC