Pep Guardiola says Erik ten Hag would be an ideal choice to take over at Manchester City

Dutch coach, currently the favourite to take over at Man United, worked with Guardiola at Bayern Munich

Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has held talks to become the next coach of Manchester United. EPA

Manchester City manager Pep Guadiola has said that Erik ten Hag – favourite to become the next coach of Manchester United – would be an ideal choice to take over at the Etihad Stadium.

Ten Hag, the current manager of Dutch side Ajax, has been heavily linked with a move to replace Ralf Rangnick at United with the 52-year-old having held talks with the Old Trafford club.

On Friday, the Ten Hag said his “focus is currently only on Ajax” but did say he did not want to “rule anything out” concerning his future.

But now Guardiola, who worked with Ten Hag at Bayern Munich, has said that he would fit in well at City when the Spaniard eventually leaves.

The City manager, who is contracted until the end of next season, said at a press conference: “Are you asking me if Erik Ten Hag could be here? Definitely.

“A lot could be here and I think he could be one of the ones. For the way he approaches the game, definitely, definitely. I will say [it] to [director of football] Txiki [Begiristain] now!”

Ten Hag, who led Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and is chasing a third Eredivisie title this season, was previously reserve manager at Bayern while Guardiola was in charge of the first team.

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Guardiola, whose City side take on Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, said: “We spoke quite regularly and he is just an incredible person and human being. I was surprised at how humble he was.

“For his qualities, just take a look at his Ajax team in the last years. It is a joy to watch and in many games, not just the year they got to the Champions League semi-final – but with little details they would have reached that final.

“The relationship we had was good, especially when we talked about football and the second team, and with players he was exceptional.”

City are currently top of the Premier League but have seen their lead cut down to just one point by Liverpool. United, who are sixth, face Leicester City at Old Trafford later on Saturday.