Ajax technical manager Gary Hamstra has insisted the club is trying to persuade head coach Eric ten Haag to stay in Amsterdam, despite expectations that he will soon join Manchester United.
Ten Haag, 52, is thought to be United’s number one choice to become Ole Gunnar Solskjör’s permanent successor, and his appointment could be confirmed later this month.
But speaking ahead of a 2-1 loss to Ajax in the Dutch Cup final against PSV Eindhoven on Sunday, Hamstra said there is still a chance Teng Haag will remain in office.
“There is interest in Eric ten Haag, that’s normal. He did a fantastic job, “Hamstra told ESPN. “We hope he stays. We must stick to the facts, he has not yet left. He is still focusing on Ajax, and so are we. We did our best [to keep him at Ajax]. We were very busy with that. He responded that he is now focusing on Ajax. Now we are preparing for two scenarios, Ten Haag can stay or leave.
The KNVB Cup was one of Ajax’s two remaining main goals this season – they are four points behind PSV at the top of the Eredivisie – but the final ended in disappointment.
Ajax took the lead in the 23rd minute when Ryan Gravenberg scored outside the zone, but after Nusair Mazrawi scored Ajax’s second goal canceled by VAR, PSV turned it around with two goals in three minutes at the start of the second half.
Eric Gutierrez scored at home after Ibrahim Sangare hit Cody Gakpo’s free kick, and two minutes later Gakpo added a second when he punished a careless play on Ajax’s defense.
“We made two big mistakes at the beginning of the second half,” said Ten Haag. “We let them counter one of our attacks and win a free kick, and then it was 1-1. And we had to keep Gakpo wide to the left, but instead he cut in and scored. ”
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema scored in added time after the visitors recovered from two goals to beat Sevilla 3-2 in an exciting La Liga clash that took Carlo Ancelotti’s team one step closer to winning. the title.
Karim Benzema marks the late winner of Real Madrid against Sevilla. Photo: Marcelo del Pozo / Reuters
The victory means that Real already has a 15-point lead at the top over second-placed Barcelona, who have two games in hand, and Sevilla in third with six rounds left.
Benzema shot at home two minutes into added time after Rodrigo and Nacho Fernandez drew Real’s level to reverse Sevilla’s 2-0 lead at halftime with goals from Ivan Rakitic and Eric Lamela at the crowded Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Earlier, Yannick Carasco scored a penalty in 10 minutes in added time after Atletico Madrid beat Espanyol 2-1 to end a three-match winless streak and consolidate their position in fourth place.
The penalty was awarded after a lengthy video review to see if the ball touched the hand of Espanyol striker Raul de Thomas in the area. Carasco had already scored to put Atletico ahead in the 52nd minute, while De Thomas equalized for the visitors in the 74th minute. Atletico have a three-point cushion ahead of Real Betis in fifth.
Paris Saint-Germain continued their march to a record-breaking 10th Ligue 1 title when goals from Neymar and Killian Mbape brought them a 2-1 victory as hosts against bitter rivals Marseille.
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Neymar’s early opening was canceled by Duhe Kaleta Carta before Mbape’s penalty sealed the victory and brought PSG to 74 points. They now lead the second Marseille, whose late tie was called off, with 15 points in six remaining games.
Jorge Sampaoli’s team has a three-point lead over third-placed Rennes as the two teams battle for second place and a direct qualification for the group stage of the Champions League.
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