Ruud van Nistelrooy lifts the lid on Man United return and his managerial aspirations

As Manchester United's Erik ten Hag faces intense scrutiny, assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy has shared his thoughts on the coaching situation at the club.

Despite a challenging start to the season, United decided to extend Ten Hag's contract this past summer. And it wasn't long after that Van Nistelrooy - who had previously served as manager at PSV Eindhoven - came on board as one of the manager's deputies.

Ten Hag, 54, suffered his latest setback on Monday when the Red Devils started their Europa League campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente. With rumours circulating that Van Nistelrooy might step into the manager's seat if Ten Hag is dismissed, the former United striker has expressed his commitment to the club.

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Speaking to ex-team-mate Rio Ferdinand for TNT Sports (via The Mirror), Van Nistelrooy, affirmed it was "100 per cent the right decision" to return to Old Trafford. That's despite having offers of other senior management roles on the table following success in his native Netherlands.

"I felt a strong feeling I want to help build United, little by little, to where we feel and know the club should be. I know, I was on a managerial track," he said. "I was at PSV, it was an unbelievable experience.

"I was in talks with clubs to manage. I loved it, I had my staff all ready - and then I had a phone call [from Ten Hag]. And I was like, 'Jeez.' I never thought of it, either, as a possibility."

Van Nistelrooy's fervour for management is immediately apparent as he confessed to Ferdinand