Former Dutch international and Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, now serving as the club’s assistant manager, is reportedly uncomfortable with speculation linking him as a potential interim replacement for Erik ten Hag. With Ten Hag under immense pressure due to poor results, van Nistelrooy has emerged as a possible successor, though he is keen to avoid any perception that he is angling for his boss’s job.
PAST EXPERIENCES OF BETRAYAL
Van Nistelrooy is no stranger to backroom politics, having experienced betrayal during his managerial tenure at PSV Eindhoven. His sudden resignation from PSV came after he believed that his assistant and several senior players conspired with the club’s directors to undermine him. That experience has made him particularly sensitive to any suggestion that he could betray Ten Hag, whom he joined at Manchester United this summer.
TEN HAG UNDER SCRUTINY
Manchester United’s current form, with just two wins from their opening six Premier League games, has left Ten Hag on the verge of being sacked. Despite mounting pressure, van Nistelrooy reportedly remains steadfast in his loyalty, determined not to repeat the events that led to his departure from PSV.
The club’s board is set to discuss Ten Hag’s future, with a critical fixture against Aston Villa looming that may define the Dutch manager’s fate. Whether van Nistelrooy will be thrust into the spotlight as a potential replacement remains to be seen.