Ruud van Nistelrooy accepts Manchester United lack a clinical striker
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A lack of killer instinct in front of goal played a big part in Erik ten Hag’s dismissal as United manager in October.
Action Images via Reuters
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LONDON – Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has conceded that the Red Devils are missing a world-class striker, but remains hopeful that Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee can develop into that role.
Before this weekend’s round of matches, only struggling Southampton and Crystal Palace have scored fewer English Premier League goals this season than United’s nine in 10 games.
A lack of killer instinct in front of goal played a big part in Erik ten Hag’s dismissal as manager in October.
United have spent more than £100 million (S$170 million) in bringing in Hojlund and Zirkzee over the past two summer transfer windows.
Hojlund, 21, has scored twice in 11 games during an injury-hit start to the season, while Zirkzee, 23, has only found the net once in 16 matches since joining from Bologna.
By contrast, van Nistelrooy remains a legend at Old Trafford for his clinical finishing, scoring 150 goals in 219 appearances for the English giants during his playing career.
“I agree that when you want to be a successful side in the Premier League and in Europe, you’re going to need a certain amount of goals,” the Dutchman said ahead of his final game in charge against Leicester City on Nov 10.
“That is facts in football and that’s why the best teams in the world have those players.
“At the moment we have players that get a certain amount of goals or assists but they are obviously at an age where they still have to be developed, and there’s the potential that they will be, the belief is there that they can.”
Van Nistelrooy has steadied the ship with victories over Leicester, to reach the League Cup quarter-finals, and Paok in the Europa League on Nov 7.
United also held high-flying Chelsea to a 1-1 draw on Nov 3 in his only Premier League match in charge so far.
Van Nistelrooy already had senior managerial experience from one season at PSV Eindhoven prior to returning to his former club as an assistant to ten Hag in July.
Ruben Amorim will bring his own coaching staff with him from Sporting Lisbon when he takes over on Nov 11.
Van Nistelrooy, though, wants to stay on as an assistant once his caretaker spell comes to an end.
“I knew that coming to Manchester United was for me a special occasion, where I felt I want to be part of this journey with the club, in an assistant role,” he added.
“It was a special period, it is still. I call it an important period because it was important to get through the four games as well as we could. I think we’ve done very well so far.
“I have clear ambitions to manage. But I made the decision to sign a two-year deal as an assistant and I’m still in that frame of mind, to be fair, to stay in that capacity.”
United goalkeeper Andre Onana said the players are keen for him to stay. It remains to be seen what happens but the interim boss also said that “the appetite to build further within this club is stronger than (being my own man)”.
The immediate focus, for van Nistelrooy and United, is to beat Leicester after collecting just 12 points from 10 games. The team will be without the injured Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia – although the trio are back in training – while Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo are still sidelined.
The Foxes have 10 points and their manager Steve Cooper is not pleased.
“We have to have the mentality that we can do better,” he said.
“Hopefully we’ll have more points from the next 10 games. Me personally and the guys will always want more. I’m always going to say that I want more because that is the elite world of the Premier League.
“Let’s go into the next 10 games looking to be better than the previous.” AFP, REUTERS
