Manchester United: Paul Scholes believes Ruud van Nistelrooy ...

Published 08/11/2024 at 07:53 GMT

Paul Scholes believes Ruud van Nistelrooy should take the step back up to a head coach role after seeing Manchester United beat PAOK in the UEFA Europa League.

Two goals from Amad Diallo were the difference as United extended their unbeaten run to three matches in the Dutchman’s interim spell in charge.

With Ruben Amorim arriving at Old Trafford to start his reign as Manchester United boss on November 11, it remains to be seen whether Van Nistelrooy will be retained at the club.

But Scholes feels that the former PSV Eindhoven head coach has the ability to step away from an assistant’s role and pursue a career as a full-time manager.

“When you see him on the sidelines, there’s that passion there. He even dresses like a manager. He looks like a manager,” TNT Sports expert Scholes said of his former team-mate.

“I’m pretty sure he must have the bug back to be a manager. Going back to being an assistant, it must be quite difficult because you’ll be frustrated.

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“I think he should be a manager. Just watching these three games, he did well in Holland; he won the Dutch Cup. He won other things. He just looks like he’s made to be a manager to me.

“I don’t think he should be anybody’s, not puppet, but I think he’s better than being an assistant manager.”

Van Nistelrooy coached former club PSV at youth level, before taking over from Roger Schmidt in 2022, winning the KNVB Cup in his first season in charge.

The ex-United striker resigned at the end of that campaign, however, and took a year out before joining Erik ten Hag as his assistant coach.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana was very clear in his desire for Van Nistelrooy to remain part of United’s backroom staff, adding that he has been doing an “amazing” job.

Onana told TNT Sports: “100% [I’d like him to stay]. He’s a very good guy, a very good coach. He is helping us a lot. He has so much experience. He’s been doing amazing since he’s been here.

“Obviously we’ve had him for a few days as a head coach. He’s different, but it’s fantastic what he’s doing and the players are happy.

“At the end of the day, it’s not something we can decide, because the club makes the decision and we have to accept that this has to be between him and the club.”

Amorim signing 'a real coup' for Man Utd - Scholes

Whether Van Nistelrooy will be offered the chance to stay at United or not, Scholes believes that Amorim, rather than owners Ineos, should take the decision.

But ultimately, it could be Van Nistelrooy himself who takes the initiative to move on to pastures new.

“I think it should be down to Amorim. If he thinks he’d be useful to keep him around as part of his staff, then yeah, why not?” said Scholes.

“You also have to think about Ruud. What does he want? Does he want to be very close to the manager?

“You’d think if he’s bringing three or four people in, then it will be a role that will go a little bit down in the pecking order and something he might not be interested in.”

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