Ruud van Nistelrooy faced similar squad trouble to Erik ten Hag at old club he quit

Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy is reportedly dealing with a similar situation to the one that led to his resignation at PSV, with players allegedly discussing Erik ten Hag’s future. Van Nistelrooy began his managerial career at the Eredivisie club in 2022 and enjoyed success, winning the Johan Cruyff Shield and KNVB Cup in his second season.

However, he left abruptly before the end of the season, citing a lack of support from the club’s hierarchy. Following his departure, reports surfaced of player unrest, with several PSV stars said to have complained about Van Nistelrooy’s coaching style and tactics.

The former striker reportedly had a strained relationship with assistants Fred Rutten and Andre Ooijer, with Rutten stepping in as interim manager after Van Nistelrooy’s exit. Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that key players had even approached the PSV board to express their concerns about his methods and coaching ability.

Now at Manchester United, Van Nistelrooy is reportedly witnessing similar issues, with Ten Hag having had disagreements with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, both of whom have since left Old Trafford, reports the Mirror. Ten Hag has led the club to its worst-ever start in a Premier League season, securing just eight points from seven games.

This dismal performance has sparked fresh debates about Ten Hag’s future at the club, with reports suggesting that his uncertain position is a hot topic among the players. According to The Sun, United’s squad have been openly discussing how much longer Ten Hag might remain as manager, given their current poor form which sees them languishing in 14th place in the league table.

If Ten Hag were to be dismissed in his third season at the helm, it’s believed that the team would welcome the appointment of Van Nistelrooy as his successor. The Dutchman, who scored an impressive 150 goals in 219 appearances for United, remains a popular figure among both fans and players due to his legendary status at Old Trafford.

However, Van Nistelrooy could be put in a tough spot should United turn to him given he was a Ten Hag appointment and not one by INEOS. If Sir Jim Ratcliffe was to cast his eye towards the Dutchman to replace Ten Hag, loyalty issues could prove to be a problem.

For now, Ten Hag believes he is safe despite United hierarchy meeting in London on Tuesday to discuss his future. The United boss’ next challenge will be a match against Brentford on October 19 (Saturday), following the conclusion of the current international break. This game could prove pivotal for the under-fire manager’s future at the club just three months into the 2024-25 season.