After resigning as PSV’s manager last year, Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford in the summer to join Ten Hag’s coaching team…Continue Reading
However, United’s poor start to the season, with just three wins in nine matches, has placed Ten Hag under growing pressure.
Ahead of United’s crucial Premier League match against Aston Villa, which could determine Ten Hag’s future, the Sunday Mirror claims Van Nistelrooy would be offered the role as interim manager if Ten Hag is sacked.
Despite this, Van Nistelrooy is reportedly reluctant to take the position, fearing he may be perceived as an opportunist, having joined the club primarily to support Ten Hag.
A source in Holland told the newspaper: ‘Van Nistelrooy is a principled guy.
‘He felt betrayed at Eindhoven – and he will not want to be viewed as the man who went behind Erik ten Hag’s back.’
In an interview with the Mirror, former United player, Dwight Yorke, also raised concerns over the club’s motive behind bringing Van Nistelrooy back to Old Trafford with Ten Hag in charge.
‘So the appointment of Ruud? Well Ruud is a manager. He was a manager, he wants to be a manager – and he’s had success. Ruud won a cup at PSV. When I saw he went to Manchester United, I thought, ‘there’s something not right with that’,’ Yorke said.
‘I gave Ruud the benefit of the doubt because I know him. But when you have a name like Ruud in the background, there’s something not quite right. It’s like when Roy Keane was at Villa under Paul Lambert and Martin O’Neill. I won’t say ‘suspicious’, but there is something not right.
‘I’m sure Ruud is professional, does his job. But you can’t help wondering if he would be in position to take over if Ten Hag goes. I feel like there is something in it. I find it a bit bizarre.
‘I’d be interested to see if Ten Hag was sacked, will they give Ruud the interim job, or will he walk away from the job? That’s when I will really figure out what this is all about. Everyone loves United, so why would he turn it down?’
