Erik ten Hag has been left ‘completely devastated’ by his Man United sacking and ‘won’t think about the £15m payout’, Dutchman’s former team-mate reveals

Erik ten Hag has been left ‘completely devastated’ by his Manchester United sacking, it has been revealed.

The Dutchman was relieved of his duties as Red Devils boss on Monday after nearly two-and-a-half years in charge, leaving the club 14th in the Premier League and without a win in Europe for over a year.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been appointed interim manager and oversaw a 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester on Wednesday, with Ruben Amorim expected to be confirmed as permanent boss soon.

But Ten Hag now finds himself out of work despite being backed by United officials just a number of months ago, and he has been badly affected by the sacking.

That’s according to his former team-mate, Hans Kraay Jr, who told Dutch outlet SoccerNews how his former colleague has reacted to the call to relieve him of his duties.

A former team-mate, Hans Kraay Jr (right), has given an insight into his friend’s emotions

Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim is set to take over from Ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout

‘I understand that he is getting over £14million and then people say. “He will go somersaulting through Manchester”,’ Kraay Jr said. ‘No, he is completely, completely devastated, he is completely ruined. At the moment you don’t think about money.

‘That will come later. I also don’t have the impression that I have to call him tomorrow to ask. “Can you still make ends meet, can you still get the groceries?” Not that, but now he’s in trouble.’

Van Nistelrooy’s role in the new United setup when Amorim takes over remains unclear but he has expressed his desire to stay at the club.

He was appointed to Ten Hag’s backroom staff in the summer, working as a coach before stepping up to lead the team this week.

The former United striker revealed that he had spoken to his former boss on the day he was let go, giving further insight into his reaction.

‘Yes, I saw him on Monday and spoke to him before the game,’ Van Nistelrooy said. ‘He was disappointed and touched because he really cared for the club.

‘The first conversations we had when I came back to the club, I felt he cared and loved the club and wanted to bring the club forward.

‘That’s why he’s also hurt that he had to leave but also proud of his achievement here winning the two cups.’

Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy (left) revealed he spoke to the Dutchman after he was relieved of his duties

He said that Ten Hag is ‘hurt that he had to leave but also proud of his achievement here winning the two cups’

Amorim will bring his own staff with him to Old Trafford, casting doubt over van Nistelrooy’s long-term future at Old Trafford. But the Dutchman insists that his plan is to stay once his interim spell is over, and made a pointed reference to the fact he still has a two-year contract.

Mail Sport understands United have agreed to pay Sporting Lisbon £9.2m for the services of Amorim and two of his assistants, while Ineos director Sir Dave Brailsford appeared to claim the deal was ‘done’ when he greeted fans outside Old Trafford on Wednesday night. 

Amorim is expected to join United during the November international break once he has served his notice period at Sporting, but an official announcement is yet to be made.