'Bruno Fernandes and Man Utd dressing room's Ruud van Nistelrooy comments must be ignored'

Manchester United's senior players reportedly want the club to retain popular coach Ruud van Nistelrooy after the arrival of Ruben Amorim, who starts work at Old Trafford next week

Jamie Carragher has urged Manchester United to ignore players’ pleas to retain Ruud van Nistelrooy as a coach in Ruben Amorim's new set-up.

The legendary former Red Devils striker was placed in interim charge following the sacking of Erik ten Hag. Van Nistelrooy led United to a 5-2 victory over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup before Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea.

Following Thursday's Europa League visit from PAOK, he will lead the team for one final time against Leicester in the Premier League on Sunday before handing over to Amorim, who officially starts work at Old Trafford on November 11. The future of Van Nistelrooy, who only returned to the club as a coach in the summer, is unclear right now, with Amorim keen to bring his coaches from Sporting CP with him.

Senior players at United, including captain Bruno Fernandes, want Van Nistelrooy to remain in some capacity, report Sky Sports. The Dutchman, 48, is said to be highly-regarded by the squad’s leadership group.

There is also believed to be a desire for first-team coach and club stalwart Darren Fletcher to remain. One source told Sky Sports: "The work Fletcher does may not be the spotlight, but it has been important."

However, given their performances this season and last term, Carragher says the players don’t deserve a say in the make-up of Amorim’s back-up team. The Sky pundit and former Liverpool defender said: “I don't think the players should have any say in anything like that.

“Certainly with the performances they've given in the last few years. If it was a highly successful team and you had huge respect for the players within the dressing room and you valued their opinion, that might be something you take into consideration.

"You don't let players start calling the shots, and certainly not players at Manchester United."

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Van Nistelrooy be kept on by United? Tell us in the comments section.

However, Carragher acknowledged it might actually be in Amorim’s interests to keep Van Nistelrooy on for the rest of the season at least. He added: "I'm sure he's got his team that he'll bring over from Sporting. If he feels he needs a connection, someone who knows Manchester United, someone who knows the squad who's been there for the last few weeks…

"He may actually say, 'can you actually stay with me till the end of the season? Give me a background of how this club works, what it was like in the past, what it would have been like this season under Erik ten Hag, what are the players like, how did he train?'

"I don't think he necessarily has to keep Ruud van Nistelrooy for the long term, but I think the clever play would possibly be to keep him till the end of the season."

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