'We love you' - Manchester United players show appreciation for key Erik ten Hag appointment

A crop of Manchester United players were only too happy to see first-team coach Benni McCarthy back at Carrington over the weekend.

The former Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United striker was a surprise addition to Erik ten Hag's coaching team last summer, joining the club just over a week before the start of the 2022/23 season. Ten Hag touched base with McCarthy to see if he would be interested in the role after speaking to his agent about a transfer target.

McCarthy, who was no stranger to the Premier League, was drafted in to improve United's attacking play and improve the output of the club's forwards. He quickly established himself as a key member of Ten Hag's inner circle and played his part in last season's success.

McCarthy, speaking last month, said: "Erik ten Hag came in and he spoke to my agent, Rob Moore, about one of the players that was playing in Holland and he asked Rob about an American player that Rob also managed. They were just speaking about that and once the conversation had ended, he said to him, 'By the way, how's Benni? How is Benni doing? Is he still working in South Africa?'

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"Rob told him that I had left and was living back in Scotland. He then asked Rob to tell me to give him [Ten Hag] a call and if I could go and see him in Manchester. That is how it came about."

The South African, who was a popular figure during his playing days, has proven to be a popular figure at United, too, particularly with the players on the Carrington training pitches, something that was only too apparent in a video