Under-pressure Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag boss says ex-Ajax colleague Marc Overmars was 'thrown under the bus' despite inappropriate messaging misconduct

Speaking ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final, the United boss reflected on his time at Ajax and came to the defence of disgraced former director of football affairs Marc Overmars. In 2022, Overmars left Ajax following a series of inappropriate messages he sent to female colleagues - he was subsequently given a global ban.

Speaking ahead of the final, via The Athletic, Ten Hag said: "Much of this [decline of Ajax] can be traced back to the dismissal of Marc Overmars. His departure was killing for the club.

"I maintain that I find it scandalous what they did to Overmars. From a club perspective, it was also so stupid how they approached that, by throwing him directly under the bus.

"Overmars was the crucial and binding factor in the club management in terms of football."

Ten Hag is expected to be relieved of his managerial duties after Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City. The Dutch coach led United to their record-worst Premier League finish as well as a group stage exit in the Champions League. Thomas Tuchel has emerged as the favourite to succeed him at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag will likely take a bit of time out of football to relax and take a break after two turbulent seasons in charge at United. He will be eager to get back into management soon however and prove that he was not the problem at Old Trafford as he so claims.