‘Painful for me’ – New Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag despairs at club not playing in Champions League next season
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INCOMING Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says he is "going to miss incredibly" the chance to compete in the Champions League next season.
A poor finish to the season means the Red Devils are out of contention for a top-four Prem finish.
Sixth-placed United now face a scrap with a West Ham side two points behind them for a Europa League spot.
Final-day results for United at Crystal Palace and the Hammers at Brighton will now determine who finishes sixth.
Seventh would see the Red Devils earn a place in the Europa Conference League's final qualifying round.
But that will be a small crumb of comfort for the Old Trafford faithful who had high hopes for the season when club legend Cristiano Ronaldo rejoined from Juventus last summer.
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When asked about United's failure to qualify for the Champions League on Sunday, outgoing Ajax boss Ten Hag admitted it was "painful".
The Dutchman, 52, told : "Manchester United will not play the Champions League next season.
"That's painful for United - but also for me. It's a competition I'm going to miss incredibly.
"But the fact that I'm going to work in the Premier League makes up for a lot. United has an enormous reach, worldwide."
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Ten Hag has just led Ajax to their third Eredivisie title in a row and the Dutch giants will compete in the Champions League again next season after reaching the last 16 in the current campaign.
He added: "I think I will encounter the same force fields at United as at Ajax, only a factor of three or four larger.
"There is something to gain. And the way that should be done, the club and I agree on that."