Erik ten Hag has elaborated on Ruud van Nistelrooy’s new role at Manchester United following their opening pre-season loss.
United began their 2024/25 campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Norwegian side Rosenborg on Monday, a match in which they conceded in added time. Ten Hag criticized the team’s performance, stating it was “by far not good enough.”
There is clearly much work ahead for the new coaching staff, officially announced last week. Former United striker Van Nistelrooy has rejoined the club, alongside fellow Dutchmen Rene Hake and Jelle ten Rouwelaar, following the departures of Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy.
Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for United between 2001 and 2006, is a familiar face to fans. After the disappointing Rosenborg match, Ten Hag provided more details about Van Nistelrooy’s responsibilities.
“He is a very ambitious manager and he has a great skill set as a manager, so he will help the team and he will help individual players,” Ten Hag told MUTV. “He will help the team in all the team functions with football, especially in attacking and pressing plays.”
Van Nistelrooy appears to have taken over McCarthy’s role, focusing on working with the United forwards and improving pressing tactics, an area that lacked organization last season.
Previously linked with Burnley and Leicester over the summer, Van Nistelrooy ultimately landed back at United. Ten Hag praised him highly after his appointment last week.
“First of all, his character has brought him so far and it’s an example for everyone here in the building,” Ten Hag said. “Of course, he will also bring some DNA of Manchester United in, but that character is such a strong driver and that is also what he shows as a coach.
“He has such a highly interesting profile, he’s so ambitious, he has the skills and he already has a lot of experience. He’s assisted the Dutch squad, in PSV he did the Under-19s as a manager, he did the Under-21s, Jong PSV, who were playing at the second level and then he was manager of the first team. So much experience, but very young, very ambitious, very driven. With his skills and his intelligence, he will help all the players and the team.”
Despite the presence of senior players like Jonny Evans, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mason Mount, Casemiro, and Marcus Rashford, United lost to Rosenborg. They will next face Rangers at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on Saturday before embarking on the USA-leg of their pre-season tour.
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