Ruud van Nistelrooy has returned to Manchester United as part of Erik ten Hag's coaching staff and has already impressed two players in particular.
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- Man Utd bring in Van Nistelrooy as coach
- Former striker's influence already being felt
- Players hail his defensive contributions
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Ten Hag has added Van Nistelrooy and fellow Dutchman Rene Hake to his coaching staff as part of a summer shake-up. Van Nistelrooy has returned to the club where he plundered 150 goals and won Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup titles. The Dutchman is best known as a penalty-box predator but has impressed the squad since his return with his defensive nous.
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WHAT TOM HEATON SAID
Goalkeeper Tom Heaton told The Guardian: "Me and Ruud spent a bit of time together then – I was always his go-to keeper for shooting. He’s been brilliant, his level of detail superb. You’d be forgiven for thinking that he’s a United legend coming in so is just here [as a face]. But his level of detail, and I’ve been in a couple of meetings, is outstanding.”
“He sort of said he could never really see himself managing, coaching. But in his final year playing, for Málaga [in 2011-12], he was with [Manuel] Pellegrini, and he said that Pellegrini saw, not that his legs had gone but that he was sort of done before he saw it.
“So Pellegrini would say: ‘Help these lot and try and work a few drills.’ And he said he really enjoyed it. He has also been very good defensively because he understands that side of it too. So I think he’ll be big for that. I have to say, I’ve played with quite a few players and he’s my favourite ever finisher, the best I’ve ever seen. He was brilliant.”
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WHAT JONNY EVANS
Evans also spoke about Van Nistelrooy's influence. He added: "I’ll be coaching strikers when I’m older! Ruud did mention that – after he left United he had a spell when he went to Spain and he was talking about when he was under Pellegrini and real sort of diehard defensive coaches.
“I think he learned a lot and saw real value in it. He’s probably himself quite obsessed about defensive structure, and, as a striker, I’m sure that was always quite interesting [regarding] where he could score his goals.”
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Van Nistelrooy's defensive input will be valued, although Manchester United will be hoping the former striker can boost an attack that struggled last season. The Red Devils managed just 57 goals in 38 games as they endured their worst-ever Premier League finish. Rasmus Hojlund finished as the Red Devils' top scorer but netted just 16 goals following his big-money move from Atalanta.
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