Ruben Amorim explains Ruud van Nistelrooy snub after Manchester United arrival
Ruud van Nistelrooy returns to Manchester United for Leicester City’s FA Cup tie on Friday (Reuters) Ruben Amorim has explained his decision to not keep Ruud van Nistelrooy as part of his coaching staff at Manchester United. Van Nistelrooy was initially brought in as part of Erik ten Hag’s coaching team last the summer but following the Dutchman’s sacking he was asked to step in as interim manager. United were unbeaten in four games under Van Nistelrooy as the team registered wins against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup and the Premier League, a victory over PAOK in the Europa League and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. But following Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford in November, Van Nistelrooy was not kept on and the former United striker ended up leaving United and becoming Leicester City’s manager just over two weeks later. Van Nistelrooy will return to Old Trafford on Friday evening as Leicester play United in the FA Cup fourth round. ‘It was not a difficult situation, because it was so clear for me. I just had to explain,’ Amorim said. Ruben Amorim was adamant about bring his Sporting coaching team to Manchester United (Getty) ‘I think it’s really simple, and he understands. He’s a man of football. He understands this situation. Then I have my team and my staff, and I could keep Ruud, because it was a good thing for me, a popular thing to do. But then I will not put Ruud in front of my guys, no matter what. ‘And then I had to put like a person like Ruud in the end of the hierarchy of my staff. And I think that was not fair for Ruud and to show respect to Ruud, I was really clear with him and I explained that I have my team, I will continue the same way. ‘I will not put a guy like Ruud, a legend of this club, in the end of the hierarchy in the staff. So it was the clear decision. It was really simple to explain and he took it like a class guy, like he is.’ Asked if he felt it important to have Van Nistelrooy as part of his coaching staff because he understands the history of United, Amorim replied: ‘No. ‘The most important thing to have as a coach is a staff that understands the way you want to play, the standards that you have. ‘When I say standards, I’m not saying Ruud doesn’t have this. He was a legend in this club. He knows what it takes to win, but I prefer to work with the team that brought me here. ‘It’s clear that that is important for me to understand my ideas, to explain the same thing to the players. So it was that decision. And I’m really comfortable and confident that I know how to win, no matter the club. Of course we are losing, in these moments you need experienced guys. But I’m not lost, or feeling a lack of something in the staff. We just need to improve as a team.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Ruben Amorim has explained his decision to not keep Ruud van Nistelrooy as part of his coaching staff at Manchester United.
Van Nistelrooy was initially brought in as part of Erik ten Hag’s coaching team last the summer but following the Dutchman’s sacking he was asked to step in as interim manager.
United were unbeaten in four games under Van Nistelrooy as the team registered wins against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup and the Premier League, a victory over PAOK in the Europa League and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
But following Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford in November, Van Nistelrooy was not kept on and the former United striker ended up leaving United and becoming Leicester City’s manager just over two weeks later.
Van Nistelrooy will return to Old Trafford on Friday evening as Leicester play United in the FA Cup fourth round.
‘It was not a difficult situation, because it was so clear for me. I just had to explain,’ Amorim said.
‘I think it’s really simple, and he understands. He’s a man of football. He understands this situation. Then I have my team and my staff, and I could keep Ruud, because it was a good thing for me, a popular thing to do. But then I will not put Ruud in front of my guys, no matter what.
‘And then I had to put like a person like Ruud in the end of the hierarchy of my staff. And I think that was not fair for Ruud and to show respect to Ruud, I was really clear with him and I explained that I have my team, I will continue the same way.
‘I will not put a guy like Ruud, a legend of this club, in the end of the hierarchy in the staff. So it was the clear decision. It was really simple to explain and he took it like a class guy, like he is.’
Asked if he felt it important to have Van Nistelrooy as part of his coaching staff because he understands the history of United, Amorim replied: ‘No.
‘The most important thing to have as a coach is a staff that understands the way you want to play, the standards that you have.
‘When I say standards, I’m not saying Ruud doesn’t have this. He was a legend in this club. He knows what it takes to win, but I prefer to work with the team that brought me here.
‘It’s clear that that is important for me to understand my ideas, to explain the same thing to the players. So it was that decision. And I’m really comfortable and confident that I know how to win, no matter the club. Of course we are losing, in these moments you need experienced guys. But I’m not lost, or feeling a lack of something in the staff. We just need to improve as a team.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
