'I'd return to Man Utd with Ruud van Nistelrooy in charge – we know each other well'
Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has spoken about his relationship with Ruud van Nistelrooy amid growing pressure Erik ten Hag
by Jake Bayliss · The MirrorFormer Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has admitted he would be open to a return if Ruud van Nistelrooy was to become manager.
A disappointing start to the season has led Erik ten Hag to come under increasing pressure at Old Trafford. The club produced a dismal display in their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend and a stoppage-time Harry Maguire equaliser only partly spared United’s blushes against Porto after letting a two-goal lead slip on Thursday night.
The tough fixtures continue to come thick and fast for United, who travel to Aston Villa on Sunday. In the aftermath of the Spurs defeat, it was suggested that Ten Hag would be given the games against Porto and Villa to save his job ahead of the upcoming international break.
The United boss was rewarded with a one-year contract extension in the summer after winning the FA Cup, but the uncertainty around his job has remained. The appointment of United hero Van Nistelrooy as his assistant only added to the scrutiny and Meulensteen, who spent six years on Sir Alex Ferguson's coaching staff, would welcome the chance to reunite with the former striker in the Old Trafford dugout.
“Ruud and I know each other really well because I worked with him and always stayed in touch,” Meulensteen told Sam Allardyce’s No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast. “I rate him highly, I think he jumped the ship at PSV a little bit too soon, he was doing really well.
“I always feel if I jump into a job, I want to make sure that I'd be able to make a difference, not to make up the numbers. I also have to make sure not to kick myself because if I go back into Manchester United, I would walk back into something I probably wouldn't recognise."
“In those six years that I was the first team coach at Manchester United,” Meulensteen added. “I loved every minute of it, I didn't feel any negative pressure any day when I was driving up to Carrington, and that was totally down to the man management of Sir Alex Ferguson and how much he trusted us with what we were doing.
“If Ruud would come calling, you would help him of course you would, you would talk to him and say, ‘Okay what can I do for you?’”
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Manchester United stick with Erik ten Hag? Tell us in the comments section below
Van Nistelrooy won the 2023 KNVB Cup as PSV Eindhoven boss before stepping down as manager and later joining United, where he scored 150 goals in 219 games during his playing days. However, Ten Hag was not feeling the pressure ahead of the Porto game and explained that he had been in regular contact with sporting director Dan Ashworth.
"We talk every day. We are a union and we made that commitment in the summer," Ten Hag said. “We refreshed the staff and I appointed my assistants, I appointed the staff. I did this. We refreshed the squad as well.
"It's not necessary to give me confidence. We talk every day about how we can improve this club, this team, improve the processes, the procedures, the connections. That is what we talk about."
Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky Sports deal
Sky Sports launches 'lowest price' Premier League package
£43 (was £52)
Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £216 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
With Ultra HD included at no extra cost, football fans can enjoy the 2024/25 season with crystal clear picture quality.