The Football Faithful
·21 October 2024
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Yahoo sportsThe Football Faithful
·21 October 2024
Rasmus Hojlund believes the entire Manchester United squad are benefitting from Ruud van Nistelrooy’s appointment to the coaching staff.
Van Nistelrooy returned to Manchester United in the summer to work alongside Erik ten Hag as assistant coach at Old Trafford. The Dutchman enjoyed a prolific spell with the club as a player, where he scored 150 goals in 219 games across five seasons.
Hojlund is a player many believe will benefit from the former forward’s presence, though the 21-year-old said Van Nistelrooy has provide ‘good advice’ for the entire squad.
“Everybody’s asking me this question. He’s helping us every day, but he’s also helping the defence and the midfield,” Hojlund said, via the Manchester Evening News.
“He’s a very good assistant coach, but obviously, he’s a great striker. You’re trying to learn everything about him and all these sort of things. I haven’t had that long to learn from him yet because I haven’t been back for a little more than a month or so. But obviously, he’s given me a lot of good advice.”
Hojlund recently returned from a hamstring injury picked up in pre-season and scored the winner against Brentford at the weekend.
Following the clash, he opened up on how he coped with a spell on the sidelines and said it is important to remember his ‘privileged’ position.
“I tried to focus on [the fact] that I’m very privileged to be a professional footballer. Obviously, there’s downsides and upsides, and we get critics, but also sometimes we are superstars but all in all, I’m living the dream every day,” he reflected on being sidelined and waiting to come back.
“I’m playing for Manchester United, and having the number nine on [my] back, it’s a good life. I just tried to focus on that part, and also I could focus on everything else instead. Trying to be even fitter for when I come back, doing my recovery even better. I think I’m in a great spot right now.”