Dwight Yorke spots 'something not right' with Ruud van Nistelrooy's role at Man Utd

With United boss Erik ten Hag facing a make-or-break trip to Aston Villa with his job hanging by a thread, former United striker Yorke believes Van Nistelrooy is an obvious choice to replace the Dutchman

Exclusive: Dwight Yorke spots 'something not right' with Ruud van Nistelrooy's role at Man Utd

Treble legend Dwight Yorke insists Ruud van Nistelrooy hasn’t gone back to Manchester United just to put the cones out.

With United boss Erik ten Hag facing a make-or-break trip to Aston Villa with his job hanging by a thread, former United striker Yorke believes Van Nistelrooy is an obvious choice to replace the Dutchman.

Van Nistelrooy, who returned to Old Trafford in the summer as part of an overhaul of the club’s backroom staff after rejecting the chance to become boss of Burnley, has a burning ambition to be a Premier League manager after a successful 12-month stint in charge of PSV Eindhoven.

And Yorke feels swapping one Dutchman for another will be a no-brainer if United are badly beaten at Villa Park.

Yorke said: “So the appointment of Ruud? Well Ruud is a manager. He was a manager, he wants to be a manager - and he’s had success. Ruud won a cup at PSV. When I saw he went to Manchester United, I thought ‘there’s something not right with that.’

“I gave Ruud the benefit of the doubt because I know him. But when you have a name like Ruud in the background, there’s something not quite right. It’s like when Roy Keane was at Villa under Paul Lambert and Martin O’Neill. I won’t say ‘suspicious’, but there is something not right.

Image: Mirrorpix) Mirrorpix)

“I’m sure Ruud is professional, does his job. But you can’t help wondering if he would be in position to take over if Ten Hag goes. I feel like there is something in it. I find it a bit bizarre.

“I’d be interested to see if Ten Hag was sacked, will they give Ruud the interim job, or will he walk away from the job? That’s when I will really figure out what this is all about. Everyone loves United, so why would he turn it down?”

Yorke was part of the United team that made history by lifting the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in 1999.

Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag) Manchester United via Getty Imag)

The former Trinidad and Tobago striker has been horrified to see how far the Reds have fallen since Sir Alex Ferguson retired 11 years ago. Ten Hag is the club’s sixth manager since Fergie stepped away after winning the title for a 13th time.

United have lost three of their opening six Premier League games and drawn twice in the Europa League with FC Twente and Porto. Last weekend, they were flattered by the scoreline in a 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham.

And on Thursday night, they needed an injury-time equaliser by Harry Maguire to salvage a result in Portugal after throwing away an early 2-0 lead.

Yorke, in an interview with Prime Casino, said: “I dread to think that Ten Hag will survive if United lose at Villa.

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

“The problem with United is that they've been elite and the biggest name in British football for years, but we haven’t had an elite manager since Jose Mourinho.

“We can’t bring in average managers or just good managers. You need an elite manager to manage an elite club.

“Who are the elite managers? Zidane, Ancelotti, Jurgen Klopp. Outside of that, there aren’t too many.

“I think everybody in the Premier League fancies their chances against United, including me, when you’re looking at Tottenham running riot last weekend.”

Dwight Yorke was talking to Prime Casino

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