‘I agree’ – Van Nistelrooy shares stance on Manchester United’s lack of goals

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·8. November 2024

‘I agree’ – Van Nistelrooy shares stance on Manchester United’s lack of goals

Manchester United are lacking a prolific goalscorer if they want to challenge for major honours.

Every man and his dog can see it, but it’s just been admitted by interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has been working with this squad of players since the summer.

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The lack of goals remains one of United’s major issues, with Alejandro Garnacho the only player with more than one goal in the Premier League this season.

United added Joshua Zirkzee to the squad in the summer but he isn’t a goalscorer, while Rasmus Hojlund is still developing his game and appears to have a bright future.

But neither of our options up front are the finished article.

Van Nistelrooy accepts that United must score more goals

Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images

United have been linked with a move for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored 23 goals in 27 games this term.

Van Nistelrooy was asked about finding a proven goalscorer.

He said: “I agree that when you want to be a successful side in the Premier League and in Europe, which is what the build is all about, you need a certain amount of goals.

“That is clear. That is why the best teams in the world have those players. At the moment, we have players who get a certain amount of goals and assists but they are in an age where they still need to be developed.

“There is potential they will be and the belief is there they can. That’s where we are at this moment.”

Van Nistelrooy finishes his spell as interim boss against Leicester this weekend. He also remains out of the loop over whether he will be part of Ruben Amorim’s backroom staff, despite having a contract for two years as assistant coach.

“I think the appetite to build further within this club is stronger than the other bit [be his own man],” Van Nistelrooy said, as quoted by The Independent. “For this moment, as I said, I made a deliberate decision to step in this role for two seasons and take it from there. These four games haven’t changed that.

“I thought this through well when I came here as assistant manager. I knew coming to Manchester United was a special occasion and I felt I wanted to be part of this journey in the assistant role. I have clear ambitions to manage, I signed a two-year deal as an assistant, and I’m still in the same frame of mind.”