November 12th 2024.
Rio Ferdinand believes that Ruud van Nistelrooy should have stayed at Manchester United. The former defender expressed his opinion that Ruben Amorim may have made a mistake in not keeping the Dutch striker as part of his coaching staff.
Amorim officially took over as United's permanent manager on Monday, bringing along his trusted backroom team from Sporting Lisbon. This includes assistants Carlos Fernandes, Adelio Candido, and Emanuel Ferro, as well as goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital and sports scientist Paulo Barreira. With this new team in place, there was no room for van Nistelrooy in the dugout, and the club announced his departure on the same day.
Van Nistelrooy had served as interim manager for four games, during which United remained unbeaten, winning three and drawing one. He had signed a two-year contract after rejoining the club in the summer to work with then-manager Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman had expressed his desire to stay on and work with Amorim, and Ferdinand, who had played with van Nistelrooy under Sir Alex Ferguson, believed that he had proven himself during his brief stint as manager.
In an interview before the announcement of van Nistelrooy's departure, Ferdinand said, "His audition couldn't have gone any better and I think, knowing him, there was a determination to prove himself and either stay at the club or be considered for a managerial role elsewhere. He looked the part and delivered results."
Ferdinand acknowledged that van Nistelrooy's continued presence could have been a distraction for Amorim and his new team, but questioned the decision to do away with someone who had a strong connection with the players. He stated, "We've been waiting for a manager to connect with the players and we have one now. Why would you let him go?"
The former defender also expressed his belief that Amorim had a difficult decision to make in regards to van Nistelrooy. He said, "It's a tough call because you need a strong personality and confidence to say, 'I don't care who's next to me, I can do this.' The manager will have to decide if van Nistelrooy will be an asset or a distraction to the team."
In conclusion, Ferdinand believed that van Nistelrooy's departure may have been a mistake and questioned the logic behind it. He also praised Amorim and his impact on the players, stating that the team had a genuine desire to perform well under his leadership.
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