Erik ten Hag to attend Crystal Palace vs Manchester United ahead of official start date

19.05.2022 - 16:07 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Erik ten Hag will attend Manchester United's final game of the season against Crystal Palace on Sunday, but he will play no part in team selection or tactics at Selhurst Park.

The 52-year-old will officially start work as United manager on Monday (May 23) but he has already begun planning for life in the Old Trafford hot seat. Ten Hag and his assistant Mitchell van der Gaag flew into London on Wednesday and are holding further talks with United officials at the club's Mayfair offices.

That includes discussions over recruitment plans for the summer, with Ten Hag having already met football director John Murtough in Amsterdam last Thursday.

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Talks are also being held over pre-season plans as Ten Hag aims to hit the ground running. He shares the determination of figures inside Old Trafford to make this role a success and he has been proactive in planning for his arrival at the club.

Ten Hag could have attended Ajax's post-season tour to Curacao this week, but instead decided to end his time at the club when they played their final Eredivisie game of the season on Sunday.

He turned his attentions to United on Monday and having worked remotely in the Netherlands for most of the week, he has now jetted into England.

He's been accompanied by Van der Gaag, who has agreed personal terms to become Ten Hag's No. 2 at Old Trafford, a role he held at Ajax this season.

His appointment has not yet been confirmed as United are waiting for a visa application and Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) from the FA to go through.

While Ten Hag is now in the country and will be at Selhurst Park on Sunday, he has had no involvement with the first team this week.

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