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Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke has claimed that there is something not right about Ruud van Nistelrooy being at the club as a coach.
The Dutch coach arrived at Old Trafford in the summer after a coaching shakeup which saw Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy all leave the club.
Van Nistelrooy’s appointment was a popular one with United fans due to his exploits in a red shirt in the early 2000s but raised a few eyebrows due to his managerial experience.
The 48-year-old was manager of PSV Eindhoven and won the 2022 Johan Cruyff Shield and 2022–23 KNVB Cup during his time at the club.
He has been heavily linked with becoming the interim manager if current boss Erik ten Hag is sacked and former United forward, Dwight Yorke, has had his say on the matter.
Speaking to The Mirror, Yorke commented on the possibility of Ten Hag being replaced by the former United striker by claiming, “Well Ruud is a manager. He was a manager, he wants to be a manager – and he’s had success. Ruud won a cup at PSV. When I saw he went to Manchester United, I thought ‘there’s something not right with that’.”
The treble winner in 1999 also queried why Van Nistelrooy would accept a coaching role despite having managerial ambitions, claiming he “hasn’t gone back to Manchester United just to put the cones out.”
“I gave Ruud the benefit of the doubt because I know him. But when you have a name like Ruud in the background, there’s something not quite right. It’s like when Roy Keane was at Villa under Paul Lambert and Martin O’Neill. I won’t say ‘suspicious’, but there is something not right.”
Speculating further on events at Carrington he asserted, “I’m sure Ruud is professional, does his job. But you can’t help wondering if he would be in position to take over if Ten Hag goes. I feel like there is something in it. I find it a bit bizarre.”
Yorke then claimed that all former players love the club so his former teammate would be unable to turn down the job, were he to be presented with the chance to take over the reins.
Reports have already stated that Van Nistelrooy does not want to be seen as someone who is an opportunist waiting to take the place of Ten Hag if he were to be sacked in the not-so distant future.
After another match without a victory, United fans could soon discover if their former hero is willing to jump into the Old Trafford hotseat should the axe finally fall on Ten Hag this international break.
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