24 February 2024 , 20:30
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If new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants a ruthless manager then Erik ten Hag fits the bill, according to Dutch international striker Noa Lang.
Lang, 24, has revealed how Ten Hag booted him out of Ajax after a touchline bust-up with former Southampton winger Dusan Tadic back in 2019.
Ratcliffe is now running the rule on whether the Dutchman can be trusted to take the tough decisions following his arrival at Old Trafford as a minority shareholder.
But Lang, who is now excelling with Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven, has explained in a documentary about his life how Ten Hag was responsible for branding him a troublemaker after a furious row with Tadic in a Dutch Cup game that was picked up by TV cameras.
Lang said: “I can show you the text messages. I still have them here. I sent Ten Hag text from the bible and said ‘you should just let me go, just stop demoting me.’
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“He (Ten Hag) also never wished me luck or anything after that. Not even a text message, nothing at all. I thought, ‘okay, not even good luck, to your own player.’
“I then just grabbed a bag at Ajax, put all my boots in it and said I’m not coming here anymore, man.’ In my heart I wanted to stay at Ajax, but my mind told me to leave.”
Noa Lang was left out in the cold by now Man Utd boss during their time together at Ajax (Getty Images)Ten Hag gave Lang a rollicking after Tadic had given the talented teenager a verbal volley for failing to chase a pass. When Lang shot back it was the end of him at Ajax.
Lang , who will be in Holland's squad for Euros 2024, added: “I know I am a type that can get the blood under your nails, because I say what I think.
“That can’t always be easy for a coach but I am just a winner. That is where my bad reputation started. I was the one who got the rollicking - and right in front of a TV camera and microphones.
“But I don’t care who you are, even though I was nineteen at the time. If I am wronged, I just say so.”
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