We knew it wouldn’t take long for Erik ten Hag to be linked with new jobs after leaving Manchester United in October, and it seems the time has now arrived.
That’s at least according to journalist Florian Plettenberg as he insists, he’s on the list at Borussia Dortmund.
He reports that Ten Hag ‘remains the shadow coach’ for current Dortmund manager Nuri Sahin. He still enjoys the confidence of the board despite Dortmund sitting in 8th in the Bundesliga.
Despite this, Ten Hag is in the background and was at the stadium for the 2-3 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen. The former Manchester United manager has a very good relationship with Dortmund advisor Matthias Sammer.
This, apparently, is turning the Dutchman into a looming shadow for Dortmund and their coach. In fact, plenty, like Plettenberg, are putting two and two together already.
This is despite a report from Sky Germany earlier today dismissing the idea. According to them Ten Hag has been to Signal Iduna Park several times since Manchester United sacked him. He was at the defeat to Leverkusen.
They also add Dortmund’s marketing director Carsten Cramer showed the former Manchester United boss around the business area. There was also an exchange with technical director Sven Mislintat.
His relationship with Sammer goes back to Bayern Munich. Sammer made him reserve manager and wanted him to manage the German U21 team before then.
However, they insisted ‘there is no connection’ with Ten Hag at this moment in time. Sahin retains full support despite a ‘current results crisis’ and the Dutchman’s visits to the stadium. Only if they can’t make it to fourth place will Ten Hag become an issue.
So, for now, Plettenberg and others may be simply stirring the pot, with the timing of this tweet certainly remarkable given the information Sky Germany, his employers, shared earlier today.
