Erik Ten Hag 'Smirks' When Asked If He's Been Practicing English Amid Man United Links

​Erik ten Hag responded to Manchester United rumours and was asked if he had been practicing English ahead of potentially managing in the Premier League. 

​Ten Hag is one of the leading candidates to become Man United's next permanent manager. 

The Ajax boss has been strongly linked with taking over from interim-manager Ralf Rangnick, with reports even claiming that he has been learning English in an attempt to land the job. 

Asked if the reports of him learning English are true, the 52-year-old smirked and replied: "No, that (report) is not true!

"We (already) talk English at the club because there are a lot of foreign players in Holland and they are already educated in English so (it makes sense)."

​Speaking ahead of his side's Champions League match, he added: "I do not think that is an issue today, this evening is all about our match.

"I am focused on that and I do not pay any attention to other subjects. My only focus is Ajax vs Benfica."

Erik ten Hag responds to the rumours linking him to a job away from Ajax... 👀#UCL pic.twitter.com/btWjP4GEjp

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 15, 2022

Just like Man United, Ajax also crashed out of the Champions League - losing 3-2 to Benfica on aggregate following Tuesday's 1-0 home defeat. 

But Jamie Carragher doesn't believe the result has hampered his chances of landing the Man United gig. 

On Ajax's defeat to Benfica and Ten Hag, the Liverpool legend said: "It shouldn't do. You can't judge a manager on one game.​

"I think it's damaged Mauricio Pochettino more than the Ajax manager because the team they had, the situation they found themselves in that game and you're actually looking at his management as one of the reasons why they went out.​

"I'd go with Ten Hag because I think he's an up and coming manager."

Will Ten Hag beat Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino to Man United's managerial post? Watch this space.