ERIK TEN HAG is ready to play hardball over new contract negotiations after his public humiliation.
Manchester United have decided to stick with the Dutchman as manager having failed to find another suitable candidate.
Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino pulled out of the running, while Gareth Southgate being with England at the Euros sidelined talks with him.
It left the club announcing Ten Hag “deserves a chance to show what more he is capable of”.
But the boss is not merely grateful to get more time and will lay down the rules for how things will go forward.
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He will not cede control of transfers, which the new set-up wanted to take out of his hands.
The 54-year-old is not prepared to be dictated to by Jason Wilcox as to how the team should play — after the new technical director was credited with suggesting he start Bruno Fernandes as a false nine in the FA Cup final win.
And Ten Hag will not allow Jadon Sancho back into the first team squad unless the player apologises for labelling him a liar last term.
The boss also wants his first-team coach Benni McCarthy given a new contract with his current deal set to expire.
Ten Hag wants these assurances before he puts pen to paper on a new three-year deal with just one left on his current contract.
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He remains angry and frustrated at his treatment and the lack of public support since Ratcliffe’s arrival.
Ten Hag faced the sack before shocking Manchester City in the FA Cup final to prompt a wave of support from United fans to keep him on, despite an all-time club worst Premier League finish of eighth.
After learning he will stay at Old Trafford, Ten Hag said he wants to take the “next step” on their pre-season tour.
The Red Devils face Rosenborg in Norway on July 15 and Rangers at Murrayfield five days later.
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They then head to the US to face Arsenal, Real Betis and Liverpool.
Ten Hag said: “Pre-season is for preparing and we have to make that our next step.
“It is one of the only times you have the team together and can work on structures and on standards.
“We’ll be as strong as possible but, of course, the players who go far in the Copa America and the Euros will not be involved.”
