Chelsea face Manchester United in the Red Devils’ next Premier League game where a new manager will be in the dugout after Erik ten Hag was sacked by the club following poor results
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca revealed he has been forced to rip up his plans ahead of facing Manchester United, following Erik ten Hag’s sacking.
Though time invested analysing the ailing Red Devils has proven fruitless, Maresca has allowed himself to feel a tinge of happiness. The Italian coach is sad to see a colleague lose a job, but the Dutchman’s exit has seen a friend take on a new role.
Ruud van Nistelrooy shared the pitch with Maresca during their time at Malaga, and now they could meet across each other in the dugout. The ex-United striker has taken charge of the club on an interim basis after last holding a management role at PSV Eindhoven in 2023.
Maresca has yet to share a message with Van Nistelrooy, and is unlikely to do so before Sunday’s meeting at Old Trafford, but has already started his research on his friend’s time at PSV.
“I guess it would be Ruud,” said Maresca. “But he’s a friend of mine. We played together. We spent years together in Malaga. We have still relations. So I think it would be Ruud.
“We have started to watch some PSV games. Unfortunately, we had already watched many Man United games. At the moment, I’m sad for Erik. But at the same time, I’m happy for Ruud. As I said, he’s a friend of mine. Hopefully, I can see him on Sunday. I’m starting to watch PSV games.”
The former Leicester City boss is once again risking throwing work out of the window however. Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim in contention to take the United hotseat in time for Sunday’s match with reports in Portugal claiming he could travel on Wednesday after taking charge of the Lisbon side for a final time.
Sporting have confirmed Manchester United ‘s swoop for Amorim and that the club have been in touch regarding the €10million (£8.43m) release clause written into the Portuguese’s contract.
A statement from the Lisbon-based club read: “Manchester United FC expressed interest in hiring coach Rúben Amorim, with the Board of Directors of Sporting SAD referring to the terms and conditions set out in the employment contract in force between the Company and the coach, specifically for the respective termination clause and for the amount of Euro 10,000,000.00;
“Manchester United FC expressed interest in paying Sporting SAD the value of the aforementioned clause.”
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