“I did this…” Erik ten Hag shoots down Martin Keown’s Ruud van Nistelrooy claim

Erik ten Hag has dismissed a rumour about his assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy suggested by former Arsenal defender Martin Keown.

Manchester United are refocusing on the Europa League after a rough run of results in the Premier League.

The club are 13th in the table, just six points clear of the relegation zone and eight behind the top teams. Recent defeats to Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Brighton have worsened United’s form.

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The loss to Tottenham has put more pressure on Erik ten Hag, making the upcoming away fixtures against FC Porto and Aston Villa crucial for his future.

Following a draw against FC Twente in the Europa League, United now need a win in Portugal to keep their European ambitions alive.

This week, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown suggested that Ruud van Nistelrooy took the job at United because he felt it may have been a chance to become the manager and that the former Dutch striker is not helping his boss because he is waiting for him to be sacked.

However, speaking ahead of the Porto tie, Ten Hag dismissed any notions of disloyalty, explaining that the entire staff at United, from those on the leadership team to his coaches and assistants.

“We talk every day,” he told the press on Wednesday evening. “We are a union and we made that commitment in the summer.

“We refreshed the staff and I appointed my assistants, I appointed the staff. I did this. We refreshed the squad as well.

“This club wants to be back on top, and it’s a long-term target. We talk every day. Every day, we evaluate and review the process, and where necessary, we make our decisions.”

The two teams will kick off at 20:00 BST on Thursday evening as United look to rescue their dire run of form.

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