Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has opened up on interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy leaving the club after it was confirmed that Ruben Amorim will take charge. Keane said the Dutchman was never going to stay with the Red Devils.
Nistelrooy was given the coaching baton after former coach Erik Ten Hag was sacked on October 28. The former striker led the Old Trafford-based club in four matches, in which the team won three and drew one.
Roy Keane said on Sky Sports Stick to Football, “I told you weeks ago, you didn’t listen to me! He was never staying. Of course, he wasn’t going to stay – it’s the game. He did well. He beat some teams, Leicester twice. He handled himself well, of course. He looked smart, spoke well, I’m not saying anything against that stuff, but he was never going to stay. When the new manager comes in, especially when Ruud was saying ‘I want to stay and help the club’, Ruud was never going to stay.”
On the other hand, another Sky Sports expert and former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said, “I wouldn’t have thought so. When he’s got 26 of his own staff coming in, and you don’t need Ruud, who’s obviously been part of the previous [regime], absolutely not.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United great Jaap Stam said Nistelrooy was never going to take a backseat role at the club after Amorim’s arrival.
“A man like Ruud, coming in as the legend he is, he needs to have a certain position within the club, where people look up to him and one where he can make a difference. Amorin will probably want to bring in his own assistants, people he has worked with over the years.”
“If that happens, is Ruud becoming just another assistant, one of the coaches? Is that right position for Ruud? I don’t think so, I would find that hard to believe, because Ruud has more in his locker than being just one of the coaches for Manchester United. It will be up to Ruud of course but I can’t see him doing that under new management,” he added.
United will take on Ipswich Town on 24th November after the international break.
