Ruud van Nistelrooy shows influence on Man Utd training ground amid Erik ten Hag 'fears'
Ruud van Nistelrooy is making his presence felt at Manchester United after returning to the club as one of Erik ten Hag's assistant managers ahead of the 2024/25 season
Ruud van Nistelrooy has wasted no time in putting his mark on the Manchester United squad after rejoining the club as a coach.
Van Nisterooy and former Go Ahead Eagles boss Rene Hake were appointed assistant managers earlier this summer as Erik ten Hag revamped his backroom team after being kept on and signing a new long-term contract. Van Nistelrooy is an Old Trafford icon having scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for United between 2000 and 2006. He has previously managed Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, resigning at the end of the 2022/23 season.
He has already been heavily involved in preparations for the new season, with United facing Manchester City in the Community Shield on Saturday. Clips released by the club show Van Nistelrooy leading a training session, suggesting he is already putting his stamp on the squad, which is expected to improve on last season’s dismal eighth-place finish.
Following the 48-year-old's appointment, there have been suggestions he could actually replace Ten Hag, should the Red Devils get off to a poor start in the Premier League. However, that is an unlikely scenario according to former United midfielder Gordon Strachan.
Even if Ten Hag was sacked, the Scot cannot see the United’s hierarchy placing Van Nistelrooy in charge. Strachan told topoffshorecasinos.com : “No, I don't think that Erik ten Hag will be looking at Ruud van Nistelrooy and thinking to himself that man wants my job.
“You can't be looking over your shoulder as a manager, that's the last thing you would do. I think it would be far too obvious if the club are thinking about replacing Ten Hag with Ruud van Nistelrooy. It would be too transparent.
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“As a manager, it’s just another part of the job that he has to deal with. I've managed clubs where certain players have really close relationships with the hierarchy of executives, and you just have to get on with it.
“I just can't see the people who are calling the shots appointing Van Nistelrooy if things turn sour. It's like having a burglar sitting in the dugout wearing a balaclava and a hooped shirt carrying a swag bag.”
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