Erik ten Hag was unveiled by Manchester United earlier this week and the Dutchman impressed supporters with his performance at his maiden press conference.
The Dutchman recently sealed yet another Eredivisie title and has spent the last week settling into life in Manchester as his backroom staff is assembled.
Steve McClaren, who was part of the United coaching staff under Sir Alex Ferguson, will be making a return to the club as one of Ten Hag’s assistants but Paul Scholes has now suggested that the 61-year-old has been given the wrong role, suggesting he should be placed at board level.
“This manager needs backing now, he’s been brought into the club to really turn it around,” Scholes told Premier League Productions, via the Daily Mail.
“The only issue is, who’s going to be helping him on that side of the business? I know at Ajax he had Edwin (van der Sar) and Marc Overmars. He’s always had someone to help him.
“I don’t see that role at United now. I don’t know who’s going to do that. There isn’t that link between him and Richard Arnold, or whoever’s running the club, and I think he will need help.
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“Possibly Steve McClaren could be doing that. Steve as I know was a fantastic coach, one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. But I don’t think he’s coached for a while now, he’s more into the director of football role I suppose with Derby County.”
Scholes worked with McClaren for two years and the pair enjoyed United’s most famous triumph – the unprecedented treble in 1999.
SN’s verdict…
United have made wholesale changes to their behind-the-scenes set-up over the last 12 months and the role Scholes is referring to could be filled by Darren Fletcher, the club’s technical director.
Fletcher was heavily involved with transfers last summer and was a key part of the entourage that convinced Raphael Varane to sign for the club last summer.
The former United midfielder has been seen in the dugout alongside the United coached regularly this season but it’s believed he will be taking a step back in that aspect.
It’s a tad too early to question United’s thinking on this one but it does seem wise to have McClaren on the training pitch. His relationship with Ten Hag is well-documented.
