Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has insisted that Ruud van Nistelrooy can help Marcus Rashford return to his best even as the 2024/25 Premier League season draws closer.
Van Nistelrooy was added to Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff earlier this summer as part of INEOS’ reshuffle of United’s coaching set-up.
The former striker seems to already be having an impact at United, with stars like Joe Hugill, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton waxing lyrical about his influence and tactical prowess.
Ex-Red Devils defender Ferdinand spoke on his YouTube channel and remarked that Van Nistelrooy can play a huge role in helping Rashford find his best form in front of goal.
Rashford endured a horrid 2023/24 season, in which he only registered eight goals across all competitions. The campaign before, the Englishman plundered a career-high 30 goals.
Ferdinand said, “Our forwards – I want to see them learning from Ruud.”
“Ruud van Nistelrooy was an absolute devil in the box.”
“He was a monster. He was an obsessive, aggressive, ruthless individual. I think Marcus, I think he can be shown that by someone like Ruud. I think that’s the job of someone like Ruud.”
“He’s [Van Nistelrooy] gonna do other things for the team but I think he should be honing in on some individuals like Rashford, saying – ‘you had a season like last season, so let’s not have the same again.”
“These are the conversations that should be going on. I’m hoping they’re going on. I like to see that Marcus will be going: ‘Yeah, yeah, I’m there. Whatever Ruud’s saying, I’m in.’”
Ferdinand also had something to say about Bruno Fernandes, who played in the false nine position against Manchester City in the Community Shield loss on Saturday.
According to the six-time Premier League winner, going forward United should seek to restore Fernandes to his natural playmaking role where he can “hurt teams” and freely deliver balls into the final third.
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The post Rio Ferdinand says “obsessive, agressive and ruthless” Ruud van Nistelrooy can help Marcus Rashford turn a corner appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.