'He won’t have his back' – Ruben Amorim encouraged to ditch Ruud van Nistelrooy
With Ruben Amorim less than a week away from beginning his new job at Manchester United, the 39-year-old has been told to axe popular current interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy
by Ben Crawford · The MirrorRuben Amorim must axe Ruud van Nistelrooy when he arrives at Manchester United as the Dutchman may confuse things, says Teddy Sheringham.
Erik ten Hag's two-and-a-half years in charge at Old Trafford came to an end last week when he was sackedfollowing a 2-1 defeat against West Ham. Van Nistelrooy, who joined United in the summer, has been handed the reins in the interim, got off to the perfect start to his time in charge with a 5-2 win over Leicester in the Carabao Cup, before a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League.
It didn’t take long for the Red Devils to earmark Ten Hag’s permanent successor, with Sporting CP boss Amorim set to take over on November 11. He has already earned himself some brownie points by defeating rivals Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League this week.
When Amorim does step into the Old Trafford dugout, former United star Sheringham has urged him to install his own staff, as Van Nistelrooy may not see eye-to-eye with the 39-year-old and a freshness about the club is needed.
“It wouldn’t be a mistake for Ruben Amorim to part ways with Ruud van Nistelrooy,” Sheringham told Flashscore. "Most managers come in with their staff behind them, and with his stock so high, he will be able to make his own demands.
“If he doesn't know Ruud and doesn't know his personality, then he won’t have his back. I think when new managers come in, it’s time for a fresh start, and you don’t want any confusion as to what was at the club before.”
Since his summer arrival, Van Nistelrooy has earned plaudits from a variety of players, notably attackers such as Marcus Rashford, who feel that his training drills have borne fruit. Amorim's immediate priority will be getting United firing in the Premier League after their dismal start to the season.
He promises a new tactical approach - with his preferred high-possession, high-pressing back three - as well as a complete mentality overhaul. However, Sheringham has warned that this job will not be easy, and that taking one of the game's hottest managerial seats comes with heightened scrutiny and attentive eyes.
“Ruben Amorim has a good record in Portugal, but he’s coming into one of the biggest clubs in the world, and it's a tough ship to sail," Sheringham continued. "A lot of top managers have failed at Man Utd. I love his youthfulness and the exuberance that follows him, but we'll have to see what happens in sticky times because it's a tough job to have at such a young age.
“I think Amorim is coming out and saying the right things, but until he's in the hot seat, we have no idea what to expect. We do know that Man Utd went out and got their man, which is the main thing. Erik ten Hag could have gone a lot sooner in a lot of people's eyes. But they've gone out and got their man now, and hopefully, he's right for the job.”
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