Simon Jordan delivers scathing Ruud van Nistelrooy verdict and says Manchester United 'are worse' since icon's return
Today at 10:03 AM
Simon Jordan believes Manchester United fans should be wary of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim appointment given the Red Devils have gotten ‘worse’ since his arrival.
Van Nistelrooy joined Erik ten Hag‘s backroom staff in the summer, marking his return to the club where he made over 200 appearances and scored 150 goals as a player.
Many fans hoped Van Nistelrooy’s Old Trafford comeback would coincide with improving United’s fortunes in front of goal giving his exploits as a player.
Instead, the Red Devils have scored just eight goals in the Premier League, the second-fewest across the competition.
However, Van Nistelrooy has now been elevated to the interim head coach role as United sacked Ten Hag less than 24 hours after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham that left the club in 14th.
Yet Jordan does not believe appointing Van Nistelrooy on a temporary basis is going to do much in terms of reversing United’s form of late.
"If they recruited van Nistelrooy with that in mind [to make him interim] then fair play to them,” Jordan told talkSPORT prior to Ten Hag’s axing.
"He’s part of a coaching setup that has created bugger all since he’s walked through the door.
"So from my point of view if you are alighting upon Van Nistelrooy to give him a chance then you don’t have an idea of the way it should be going in the first place. You should have clear visions.
"Van Nistelrooy has been brought in and there’s no value added, in fact United are worse as a result.
"He’s part of a coaching framework that Ten Hag sits on top of, that he’s part of.
“There’s nothing about van Nistelrooy that I would suggest gives you any indication that he should get the job besides the fact there’s history of Van Nistelrooy and Manchester United.
"Make a decision and go get a proper manager.”
Van Nistelrooy already has experience as a head coach after he spent just over one full season in charge of Dutch side PSV.
He guided PSV to a second-place finish in the 2022-23 season along with two trophies in the form of the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Cup but departed due to a perceived lack of support from above.
But the United role, albeit interim, will be a significantly more scrutinised one than he had with PSV.
Van Nistelrooy has already faced criticism since he rejoined United from longtime rival Martin Keown, who questioned if ulterior motives were behind the Dutch striker’s return to Old Trafford.
The former Arsenal defender famously sparked a mass brawl in 2003 when he jumped on Van Nistelrooy after he missed a penalty and copped a three-game ban along with a fine of £20,000.
Keown once again went on the attack regarding Van Nistelrooy in the wake of United’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham in September.
"I’m looking at Van Nistelrooy. Is he giving everything to this manager? This manager looks very lonely on the sideline,” Keown told talkSPORT.
"Is Van Nistelrooy waiting to take over? Because it looks as if there’s going to be change taking place there.
He added: “Is everyone adding to the group? I’m not seeing that from Van Nistelrooy. Ten Hag is just sitting there, nothing going on, no conversation. Pep goes back and speaks to the gurus next to him.
“Is everybody looking in the mirror at themselves giving their best?”
Keown added: "It doesn’t look like the players are committed, it doesn’t look like the staff are particularly committed. It’s a lone man in the dugout.”
