For two years, Erik ten Hag said nothing publicly about Manchester United. Now, in a wide-ranging interview with The Athletic conducted across two evenings in his hometown of Enschede, the former United manager has finally opened up — and the picture he paints is one of broken agreements, transfer frustrations, and a sacking he believes came too soon.

Promises made, promises broken

Ten Hag returned his contract extension after United's dramatic 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City at Wembley in May 2024 — a result that reversed the club hierarchy's earlier decision to replace him. Talks in Ibiza during his holiday sealed a further year, but Ten Hag says the commitments made there were never honoured.