ROY KEANE has highlighted a problem with Ruud van Nistelrooy staying at Manchester United beyond the arrival of Ruben Amorim.
The new manager is set to start his new job on November 11, meaning the interim boss has a total of four games in charge.
Van Nistelrooy arrived at Old Trafford in the summer as sacked Erik ten Hag’s new assistant.
But despite so far taking the reigns for a 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester and 1-1 draw with Chelsea, his long-term future is unclear with Amorim set to bring his own coaches from Sporting Lisbon with him.
After Sunday’s game, Van Nistelrooy called the United players a “good group” and he is supposedly liked by the squad.
But his comments enraged Keane, who told Sky Sports that he is worried the Dutchman is not ruthless enough.
The former captain said: “Oh they are great lads, we don’t have to worry about football results then.
“I would rather work with bad lads who put a shift in and run.
“I know it is an awkward question for him, he is not going to say they aren’t good guys. What is a good group?”
Keane explained that staying on might be the wrong move for him too, saying: “Who brought Ruud to the club? Was it United was it Ten Hag? Because there was a lot of changes in the background.
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“Does Ruud feel he has got loyalty to Ten Hag? Or does he say ‘well, it was the club that brought me in’.
“I think it is difficult to stay when a new manager comes in if he is bringing a lot of his own staff.
“Maybe Ruud would be best stepping back because it is not easy.
“If he feels any loyalty to Ten Hag I feel it is difficult to stay on – but if you want loyalty you get a dog.”
Fans are concerned over the situation, with one saying: “Fear for Amorim. If Ruud has to leave players already have an excuse to not perform.”
Another added: “Ruud leaving the club then it’s going to get awkward.”
Van Nistelrooy’s last two matches in charge are versus Greek side Paok in the Europa League and Leicester in the Premier League.
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.