Erik ten Hag has detailed the reasons behind his decision to shake-up his coaching staff after being backed with a new contract by Ineos.
Manchester United endured a miserable campaign last season, finishing bottom of their Champions League group and ending up eighth in the Premier League – their worst league finish since 1989-90.
There were fears that Ten Hag would lose his job over the results, but after Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos decided to stick with him over the summer, he has wasted no time in freshening up his coaching team with some fresh voices.
Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has come in, while former Go Ahead Eagles boss, and close friend of Ten Hag, Rene Hake also joins as an assistant, with Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy leaving.
‘If you want to get better, you have to innovate,’ Ten Hag told Dutch publication AD.
Erik ten Hag has decided to refresh his coaching staff ahead of the start of the new season
Rene Hake (left) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (right) have arrived as assistants to Ten Hag
Ten Hag’s long-time assistant Mitchell van der Gaag left Manchester United this summer
‘I went looking for people I know are good. Loyalty is also a thing. Ruud van Nistelrooy: a fantastic, experienced coach with United-DNA.
‘With Darren Fletcher we have a talented British coach. René was someone in the profile like Mitchell had: a very good and experienced, analytically strong field coach. And Jelle ten Rouwelaar has trained three Dutch-internationals, including Bart Verbruggen. With his innovative exercise material, he is one of the great talents when it comes to modern goalkeeper training.’
The appointment of goalkeeping coach Ten Rouwelaar upset Ten Hag’s former club Ajax, before an agreement was struck.
‘They were not happy with that, no,’ he added.
‘I had already spoken extensively with Jelle in February and March. Because many things were still uncertain at the time, including about my own position, I could not yet make hard agreements about that. I’m glad Ajax eventually cooperated to make this possible.’
Speaking on the coaching reshuffle, Dan Ashworth, United’s new sporting director, said: ‘Together with Erik, we are working to strengthen all areas of our men’s first team operations, and refreshing the coaching staff is an important part of that.
‘It’s a particular pleasure to welcome Ruud back to the club where he enjoyed so much success as a player, and I know that he and Rene will help reinforce the winning mentality and high standards we are aiming for.’
As part of the revamp off the pitch, Mail Sport recently revealed that Manchester United’s first-team physios Richard Merron and John Davin are leaving the club as an overhaul of the medical department continues.
Merron, who has been with the club for 23 years and in his current role since 2017, was regularly seen running onto the pitch to treat United’s injured players. Davin has been on the staff since June 1997.
United suffered a high number of injuries last season, but no personal blame is being placed at the door of the two outgoing physios
They are the latest in a series of changes since Gary O’Driscoll moved from Arsenal to become head of sports medicine last September and reshape the medical department.
In what was seen as another coup for the club, Jordan Reece followed O’Driscoll from Arsenal to Old Trafford to become head physio and replace Robin Sadler. Ibrahim Keren moved across from the women’s team and now plays a key role with the first-team, while Neil Hough left his physio’s position at the academy.
O’Driscoll has been working with Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford to get to the bottom of the fitness problems that plagued United last season, with Ten Hag’s side suffering nearly 70 separate cases of injury or illness.