Ruud van Nistelrooy reveals surprising detail ahead of Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd arrival
Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed as Man Utd’s interim head coach after Erik ten Hag’s sacking
Ruben Amorim will take charge of United from Monday
Van Nistelrooy’s future under Amorim remains very uncertain.
Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has surprisingly revealed that he still hasn’t had any contact with the club’s incoming permanent head coach Ruben Amorim.
Erik ten Hag was sacked at the end of October and replaced by Van Nistelrooy on a temporary basis. The former striker had only returned to the club over the summer as part of the coaching staff, and is expected to hand over the reigns to Amorim when the Portuguese manager leaves Sporting CP to take charge of the Red Devils on 11 November.United struck an agreement with the incoming head coach on 1 November but Van Nistelrooy still hasn’t spoken to Amorim.
“I didn’t have contact so far,” the former PSV Eindhoven boss told assembled media ahead of United’s Europa League meeting with PAOK on Thursday. “There’s no changes in that. I don’t know when yet.
“It is difficult to comment on that now. I’m waiting for conversations to take place.”
Van Nistelrooy steered United to a thumping 5-2 Carabao Cup victory over Leicester City before overseeing a bleak 1-1 draw with Chelsea last weekend. After the midweek European encounter, the Red Devils host Leicester again in the Premier League on Sunday.
“In the meantime the most important thing for this club is getting the work done on a daily basis and in the game coming up,” Van Nistelrooy added. “It’s a European night against the Greek champions. I feel responsibility to do well over the next week and that’s my job. I welcome Ruben, I’m happy to help him and that’s the situation for the moment.”
Van Nistelrooy has made it very clear that he is keen on remaining a part of United’s coaching staff when Amorim arrives. The Portuguese coach is expected to bring five members of his backroom team from Sporting, putting Van Nistelrooy’s involvement in doubt.United’s interim boss concluded: “I’m so focused on getting results going. We have two vital games for the season [PAOK and Leicester City]. I’m doing the new manager the best favour to do that.
“Last week, before the Leicester game, it was even harder to focus, things changed quickly and to manage that was a bigger task. Now things have calmed down and we’re focusing on the two performances we can build on.”