If Erik Ten Hag wants to see his previous team, Manchester United, return to the top, he has been told by former star Cristiano Ronaldo to pay attention to Ruud van Nistelrooy.
In a disastrous second season at Old Trafford, the three-time Premier League winner did not live up to expectations. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s 18-month homecoming came to an end when Ten Hag demoted him; as a result, Ronaldo’s contract was terminated, and he joined Al-Nassr in January 2023.
But since Van Nistelrooy joined Ten Hag’s coaching staff, United has looked to a well-known figure in the wake of an unprecedentedly poor Premier League season. And despite rumours that the 39-year-old Ronaldo is being prepared to take over as manager, he thinks the Dutchman, who was both his teammate at United and Real Madrid, can add a crucial spark.
In an interview with Rio Ferdinand Presents, he added, “If Ten Hag listens to Ruud, maybe he can help the club,” implying that the manager might not be as knowledgeable as his backup plans. “He can help, in my opinion. And the players who played there should be considered by the club.
“It could be Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, or you, Rio Ferdinand. Alex Ferguson, sir. A club that you don’t comprehend cannot be rebuilt.”
Ten Hag has been given the freedom to assemble a team from players he knows, spending large sums of money to create a homecoming atmosphere at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have overspent in bringing in a plethora of Dutch talent, including Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee, as well as players who have previously worked with the boss, such as Antony, Lisandro Martinez, and Andre Onana.
The 48-year-old Van Nistelrooy left his post as senior coach at PSV Eindhoven to rejoin Ten Hag’s staff at Old Trafford. Furthermore, some think the former hitman from the Netherlands would be in a position to take over if Ten Hag departs.
Ronaldo also emphasised his opinion that former athletes make superior coaches since “they understand” the demands and dynamics of the locker room. He seemed to emphasise the word “if” a lot, though, which suggests he isn’t sure Ten Hag will give his number two enough thought.
Following Jason Cundy’s suspicions that Ten Hag’s contract was merely extended for a year by United, such remarks were made. That suggests a lack of faith in the coach, who might be replaced by Van Nistelrooy if things don’t work out, according to the former Chelsea and Tottenham defender.
Cundy remarked on talkSPORT, “If you truly believe in the manager, tell him, ‘I believe in you. Let’s do this now. Let’s do another three on top of one year and give you four years.'” “They’re sitting there saying, ‘We’ll call in Van Nistelrooy to help,’ because there’s nothing we fancy out there at the moment.
“Everyone is aware of how this will conclude. Van Nistelrooy knows it, Ten Hag knows it, Sir Jim Ratcliffe knows it, and the players know it. The only uncertainty is when.
While Ronaldo was still developing at the team, Van Nistelrooy—who scored an incredible 150 goals in 219 appearances for United—won both the FA Cup and the League Cup. The Portugal icon, though, has spent enough time with his old attacking partner to be aware of the exact qualities he brings to the Red Devils in his return.