September 30th 2024.
This summer, Manchester United welcomed back a familiar face to their staff - Ruud van Nistelrooy. The club legend returned as an assistant manager to Erik ten Hag, who himself is facing mounting pressure after a string of poor results.
After their dismal defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, the team suffered their second 3-0 loss at home, following a similar defeat against Liverpool just four weeks ago. As a result, there is concern within the club and ten Hag is in desperate need of a positive reaction.
For now, the club's hierarchy is standing by ten Hag and he will remain in charge for their upcoming matches against Porto and Aston Villa. However, there is a backup plan in place should results not improve quickly. United sees van Nistelrooy as a viable short-term option to take over the reins.
The 48-year-old had previously served as the head coach for PSV Eindhoven but resigned after the 2022-23 season due to a lack of support from the board. Since then, he has been working alongside ten Hag as his assistant at Old Trafford.
According to reports, United's CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth are confident in their preparations for any potential changes and view van Nistelrooy as a strong option to step in. He would also have the support of fellow assistant manager Rene Hake, who joined ten Hag's staff this summer after leaving his role as head coach at Go Ahead Eagles.
Van Nistelrooy is no stranger to Old Trafford, having spent five years as a player for Manchester United. During his time with the club, he scored an impressive 150 goals in 219 appearances.
In the summer, United's chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford spoke to several managers before ultimately deciding to stick with ten Hag and extending his contract. Among those interviewed were Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate, who are both highly regarded by the club.
As United prepares for upcoming matches against Porto and Villa, all eyes will be on ten Hag and his team. Fans can stay updated on all the latest news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for updates and agreeing to the privacy policy.
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