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Newly appointed Manchester United assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has shared insights into how Manuel Pellegrini altered his perspective on not playing regularly during his time at Malaga.
Van Nistelrooy, a former United striker, has joined Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff this summer.
This addition is part of a series of backroom changes at Old Trafford following a disappointing 2023/24 season where Manchester United finished eighth in the Premier League, their lowest top-flight finish since 1989/90.
Van Nistelrooy’s coaching career began with a role as manager of PSV Eindhoven’s youth teams before he took charge of the Dutch club’s first team for the 2022/23 season.
He led PSV to victory in the Johan Cruyff Shield and the KNVB Cup. However, he resigned with one match left in the Eredivisie season, citing a lack of support.
Van Nistelrooy shares a piece of advice for United players
The 48-year-old discussed how former Manchester City manager Pellegrini helped him realise the potential impact of players who are not regular starters.
“Listen, you’re not going to start most of the games. You’re going to come on. It’s important now that you’re taking care of the younger players,” he told the Guardian.
Van Nistelrooy reflected on his final season as a player at Malaga, where Pellegrini informed him that he wouldn’t be a regular starter. Initially, this was hard to accept.
“I was a player, not a coach, and I wanted to play,” Van Nistelrooy admitted.
However, this experience ultimately transformed his outlook. He began to think, “OK, how can I help these guys?”
Off the pitch, Van Nistelrooy offered advice to younger players on developing a lifestyle that would benefit them professionally.
On the pitch, he focused on helping them improve their skills.
Malaga had several young attackers at the time, including Salomón Rondón (23), Isco (22), Juanmi (19), and a very young Samu Castillejo, who later moved to Milan.
Van Nistelrooy emphasised the importance of mental, tactical, and technical support.
“First on the mental side, and then later on the tactical and technical sides, I could help these guys,” he said.
Building relationships through conversation and training, he realized his potential influence. This experience sparked his interest in coaching, leading him to pursue his coaching badges.
This new role at Manchester United marks a significant step in Van Nistelrooy’s coaching career, bringing his experiences and insights to a team aiming to rebuild after a challenging season.
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