I saw Ruud van Nistelrooy do three things at PSV that make him perfect for the Man United job

Ruud van Nistelrooy is often seen in the technical area on the shoulder of Erik ten Hag. The Manchester United manager might be looking over his.

Ten Hag has survived the international break many thought he wouldn't and will be in the dugout for the visit of Brentford this weekend. The FA Cup final victory over Manchester City granted the 54-year-old a stay of execution in May and despite a fumbled start to the season United are sticking with Ten Hag for now after a summit meeting of the Old Trafford power brokers.

But it's surely only a matter of time before a change in the dugout is made and, with Thomas Tuchel now instilled at Wembley to lead England, perhaps the man most likely is current assistant Van Nistelrooy. While his managerial resume doesn't leap off the page and would lead some to make comparisons with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, delving a little deeper reveals the Dutchman has the depth to deliver. He is very hands-on in his coaching role at United, while players and staff noted during the pre-season tour that he is obsessed with defensive shape.

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He spent just a sole season in charge of PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, finishing second in 2023. But his side took four points off eventual champions Feyenoord and did the double over fierce rivals Ajax. Indeed, that Feyenoord side were led by current Liverpool chief Arne Slot.

"I loved going up against Slot," said Van Nistelrooy. "His teams have a very recognisable style and he is very clear in his ideas. He built the Feyenoord squad on those ideas, and he got in the players who could deliver on them. It’s building up from the goalkeeper from the back, combination play and finding the free man everywhere, so you need to make sure your press is right. But you also need to get your build-up sorted, because it’s high and intense pressure in your own half. Slot makes you prepare every game properly, but I loved that challenge."

Van Nistelrooy displayed his credentials at being able to mastermind wins over the best in the business again when Arsenal were defeated 2-0 in the Europa League. Mikel Arteta's men were the better side in the first half but PSV changed their shape and tactics and prevailed.

Van Nistelrooy is certainly capable of adapting. When he took over at PSV, there was a summer exodus of talent, an early exit from the Champions League qualifiers and four league defeats by November. But there would be just one more after that and the campaign ended with a penalty shootout success over old foes Ajax in the domestic cup final.

The former frontman man may have wanted to imprint a style on the side, but it was a results business and he put points before philosophy. United have neither just now.

"It wasn’t a question of what football I wanted to play," Van Nistelrooy explained, "it was more about, with the players we have, what is the best strategy to get the maximum out of the season? We knew we had to sell players for massive amounts of money, and that meant selling our best players in the winter break. So it was mostly about adapting to the situation rather than implementing my own philosophy or style of play, as I had done with Jong PSV and the youth teams.

"It was a fantastic process, though, because I learned a lot through analysing the squad, analysing individual players, talking a lot with the coaching staff about how to get the maximum out of the players. Is it the high press, is it a mid-block, is it counterattacking or sustained attacks in the final third? And, of course, it varies per game.

"Many times in our own league we would be the better team, but sometimes in the big games, and in Europe, we would not be. We had to adjust and get the best not just out of the players, but also out of each other as coaches."

Those conversations with players and staff point to another Van Nistelrooy strength - man management. Working in the Academy at PSV he played a pivotal role in the development of Cody Gakpo and Noni Madueke, both now starring in the Premier League, while his experiences under Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson had a profound impact on him. In a dressing room of egos and talent, finding a common cause and getting the best out of players is one of the most important traits needed at Old Trafford.

"As a player, the most important thing I took from working with Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson was their relationships with the individual," Van Nistelrooy said. "It’s not a football player; it’s a person. When you reach that connection, you get the best out of people – and from there on you can help them build their careers. I never let that thought go out of my mind.

"Sometimes you have to be tough on them and sometimes you have to get your arm around them. That mixture is important, but the most important thing is to always be honest and straight. When you have knowledge about the game and what is necessary at the highest level, you must share it."

Van Nistelrooy is sharing the technical area with Ten Hag just now, in time he might be commanding it himself.