Van Nistelrooy 'impressing' Man Utd chiefs

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 1 Oct 2024 10:19 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United bosses are very happy with Ruud van Nistelrooy's influence on the team, according to the latest reports.

The former Red Devils attacker joined up to work under Erik ten Hag as the assistant coach during the summer window.

Journalist Christopher Michel of FussballNews posted online: "News #MUFC: At a meeting a few weeks ago, Ruud van Nistelrooy is said to have left a positive impression, while Erik ten Hag acted more reserved. The club bosses were apparently quite impressed."

A report today from ESPN also said that Ten Hag must he get positive results in the next two games or he faces the chop, leading to the idea that Van Nistwelrooy could take charge, on an interim basis at least.

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Ten Hag headed into the 3-0 loss to Tottenham under the cosh. A dubious red card sealed off an abysmal first-half display from the Premier League giants at Old Trafford.

The club are now in 13th position in the Premier League with a minus-three goal difference after six games. United play away to Porto in the Europa League on Thursday and then have a tricky test when they travel to play Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday. It's not clear what the marker is but anything less than a win and a draw would surely spell the end.

Last season, United finished eighth in the Premier League and were dumped out of Europe at the Champions League group stage. But an FA Cup win over rivals Manchester City went a long way in Ten Hag keeping his job.

Will Van Nistelrooy take over Ten Hag?

It comes after FootballTransfers revealed that Van Nistelrooy will be the United manager by 2026 and even turned down the opportunity to replace Ten Hag as Old Trafford boss this summer.

Van Nistelrooy was previously a fan favourite as a player during his spell with Man Utd from 2001 to 2006, and the former Netherlands striker has been cutting his teeth in management.

The 48-year-old had a year in charge of PSV from 2022/23, during which he won the KNVB Beker only to quit with one game of the campaign remaining, citing a lack of support.

Following a year out of the game, he joined Man Utd as Ten Hag’s assistant in July.

FootballTransfers has been told, however, that Van Nistelrooy was asked to replace the former Ajax boss and take full control of the Old Trafford side.

He knocked back this opportunity as he felt the pressure of the role would be "overwhelming". Furthermore, he told the Man Utd board that he felt he could be more effective in a coaching capacity, which is how the two-year deal to become assistant came about.