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Ten Hag ‘ready’ for United role
Ex-Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt has backed Manchester United target Erik ten Hag to be a success in the Premier League.
The Dutchman has been heavily tipped to take over at Old Trafford at the end of the current campaign and is believed to be competing with Mauricio Pochettino for the role.
Kuyt, who played 285 times for the Red Devils’ greatest rivals, believes his fellow countryman is ready for a top job in Europe after five years at Ajax.
He said: “Ten Hag is a great, experienced coach. He’s done his apprenticeship, if you like, with Bayern Munich’s second team, then Utrecht and now at Ajax.
“He is a great manager who has improved himself so much, on and off the pitch.
“I know some people were doubting his level of speaking English, his performance in front of the camera, but you see him growing every week as a manager, and I think he can do a great job at any top side in Europe.
“His tactics, his way of thinking about football, is very interesting and it would be great if he was to get an opportunity at a top side.”
Bruno: Win means the World
Bruno Fernandes was thrilled to help Portugal avoid a slip-up against North Macedonia and book their spot at Qatar 2022.
The Macedonians stunned Italy on Thursday night to end the Azzurri’s World Cup dream but the United midfielder’s brace made sure of a comfortable 2-0 victory in Porto.
It means the Portuguese will play at their sixth successive World Cup and potentially the last for veterans such as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Fernandes and Ronaldo, 37, exchanged a neat one-two for the opener in Lisbon, something the goalscorer was particularly happy to see.
He said: “The most important thing is that Portugal won. Everyone has ambition, Cristiano and I are no exception.
“Usually he scores and I assist, but today it was the other way around.
“For me, the most important thing is to help the team — if possible with goals. Of course we all like to score in every game, whether it’s the most important game or the least important.
“I keep in mind our coach’s ideas and that’s probably why I’ve scored this double, from doing what the coach asks of me.”