Ruud van Nistelrooy would ‘never stab Erik ten Hag in the back’ in pursuit of succeeding him as Manchester United boss.
That’s the view of Dutch football journalist Marcel van der Kraan who provided some insight into his fellow countryman’s future at Old Trafford.
Pressure continues to mount on Ten Hag, who has led United to their worst-ever Premier League start.
The Red Devils are slumped in 14th place and are already ten points adrift of leaders Liverpool following Sunday’s goalless draw at Aston Villa.
It follows Thursday’s Europa League capitulation against FC Porto which saw United surrender a 2-0 lead before salvaging a last-gasp 3-3 draw in Portugal.
During the clash at Villa Park, Ten Hag became embroiled in what appeared to be a heated debate with his assistant Van Nistelrooy, who has been touted as a candidate to replace the United boss, in the event of a dismissal.
Casting an expert eye over the situation, Van Der Kraan has quashed theories claiming the former Manchester United striker is planning to double-cross Ten Hag in hope of landing the top job at Old Trafford.
“When he [Van Nistelrooy] signed in the summer he was very motivated to go and work for his old club,” Van der Kraan told talkSPORT.
“Mainly for the love of the club and because he saw the potential of a number of young players such as [Rasmus] Hojlund and [Marcus] Rashford,” Van Der Kraan told talkSPORT.
“He knows the culture of the club and I think he felt he could add something that Ten Hag could use.
“Erik was much more a manager [suited] for the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig who made him several offers before United finally got him.
“Erik worked at Bayern Munich. He knew the German Bundesliga, he speaks the language and all of that wasn’t really there in England for him. He’d never played there but Ruud can add that.”
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Van der Kraan continued: “Because of Ruud’s background and what happened in his first year at PSV Eindhoven.
“He built everything up through the youth ranks, he was head coach and he brought through some brilliant young players who are really doing well for PSV.
“He worked well with them and then at the end of his first season when he won the cup, took them to the Champions League and won the Johan Cruyff Shield, there was a bit of aggro and betrayal between him, his assistants and a couple of players.
“He felt there was a conspiracy there. If you look at that situation, In my opinion, the last thing he will want to do is stab somebody in the back or want to be seen as an opportunist.
“That’s everything he hated about his first season as a manager at PSV Eindhoven.”
Asked whether Van Nistelrooy would accept the job on a full-time basis should the club opt to wield the axe on Ten Hag, Van der Kraan says it’s not a certainty that he would take the job.
“Everybody will say Ruud is ready to do the job but I don’t think Ruud Van Nistelrooy looks at it like that,” he added.
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“On the other hand, maybe his love for the club is that big and he wants United fans to be happy. If they do really want him and put pressure on him to take it on an interim basis maybe he will not walk away from United.
“It would need a lot from the board and directors at Manchester United Dan Ashcroft and Jason Wilcox to convince Ruud to do that.”
Van Nistelrooy represented Man United for five years as a player, the goal poacher scoring 150 times in 219 appearances for them.
He won a Premier League, an FA Cup, a League Cup and Community Shield during his time at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag has been in the job for just over two years and has two trophies to boast, winning the FA Cup last season and the League Cup in his first season.
However, last term saw Man United come eighth in the table, their worst ever finish in the Premier League era.
