Erik ten Hag makes clear Ruud van Nistelrooy claim amid Man United succession reports

Erik ten Hag has made a clear Ruud van Nistelrooy claim following reports about his coach potentially taking his place at Manchester United.

United drew against FC Porto on Thursday evening after giving away a two-goal lead. Harry Maguire scored a last-minute equaliser to salvage a point.

Erik ten Hag’s side have won just one out of 10 games so far this term and this dreadful form could see the end of the manager at the club.

Speaking after the 3-3 draw, Ten Hag has assured that his coaching staff are working together with the players with a “strong spirit” and that everyone is working in the same direction.

“We will work and we will continue and we will fight. You see the spirit and the connection between the staff and the team,” he told TNT Sports.

“Between the players, together, there’s a strong spirit. We want to achieve and we are in that [same] direction.

“We have that mentality and spirit-wise, but especially in some defending parts, we have to step up.”

This comes after various reports that claim Ruud van Nistelrooy is one of the favourite options to succeed Ten Hag if he was to be sacked.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes that the assistant coach is “waiting” to take over from his fellow Dutchman.

“I’m looking at Van Nistelrooy. Is he giving everything to this manager? This manager looks very lonely on the sideline,” Keown said on talkSPORT.

“Is Van Nistelrooy waiting to take over? Because it looks as if there’s going to be change taking place there.

While the ex-striker would most likely take over on an initial interim period, he would be hoping to turn things around himself and impress the INEOS leadership.

Whether or not a change is made will likely be found out in the coming week, with the international break coming after a trip away to Aston Villa in the Premier League.

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