"He is a great person and a great coach" - Manchester United star says players want Ruud van Nistelrooy to stay at club
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has said that the players want interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy to remain at the club. The former Red Devils striker has been managing the team in an interim basis since Erik ten Hag was sacked last month.
United have announced Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim as their next permanent manager. The Portuguese is set to assume charge on November 11 ahead of his first game in charge at Ipswich Town in the Premier League 13 days later.
Meanwhile, Nistelrooy is coming off a 2-0 home win over PAOK in midweek in the UEFA Europa Conference League. He will also be in the dugout for the Premier League home game with Leicester City on Sunday (November 10).
While it's not clear if Nistelrooy would be a part of Amorim's managerial team, Onana said that the players would prefer that (as per Tribal Football):
"100%. He is a great person and a great coach. He has a lot of experience and has done great things since he has been here.
"We have had him as head coach for a few days, and the players are happy, but it is not something we can decide. The club has made a decision, and we have to accept it because the final decision is up to them."
In the aforementioned PAOK win, Amad Diallo's second-half brace at Old Trafford helped Manchester United notch up their first continental win of the campaign following three straight stalemates.
"I've enjoyed it" - Interim Manchester United boss Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ruud van Nistelrooy has enjoyed an unbeaten stint as the interim boss of Manchester United. Following a 5-2 home win over Leicester City in the EFL Cup Round of 16, his team drew 1-1 at home to Chelsea in the Premier League.
In his latest outing, United beat PAOK, as mentioned above. Ahead of his last game in charge against the Foxes in the league, also at home, the former striker said about his short stint (as per the BBC):
"I've enjoyed it. The reaction of the players was outstanding. As an assistant you are quite close to players, so in the past three months I've spent a lot of time with the players and got to know them very well as human beings and also as football players, where they are in their development and how I can help.
"I think that relationship is helping now that we are together, and we want to achieve something together."
Manchester United are riding a three-game unbeaten streak across competitions since a 2-1 league loss at West Ham United.