Amorim relationship, squad opinion, new job - Ruud van Nistelrooy Man United future verdict given

Ruud van Nistelrooy's interim spell as head coach of Manchester United is over. Four games, three wins, one draw and 11 goals has somewhat revived United's season.

The Dutchman replaced Erik ten Hag two weeks ago after the club decided the time was right for change. Following the 5-2 win over Leicester City in the EFL Cup, Ruben Amorim's appointment was confirmed and Van Nistelrooy was told he would be in interim charge for just three more games.

A 1-1 draw with Chelsea was followed by a 2-0 win over PAOK in the Europa League and 3-0 drubbing of Leicester. Scenes at the final whistle at Old Trafford resembled a figure of someone saying goodbye to the supporters, but no decision has been made yet.

READ MORE: Why Ruben Amorim can't take training on his first day as new Manchester United boss

READ MORE: Ruben Amorim final act as Sporting manager speaks volumes as new Man United era begins

"For me, it is important to have that clarity and I appreciated that and in the end the most important thing is the football club, and I'm here to support that in my role," he told the media on Sunday.

"And, as I said, I want to contribute doing that in the future and now also the communication was after the block of four games there will be communication towards you and your colleagues who are in an uncertain situation. And I expect to hear today or tomorrow."

The question regarding Van Nistelrooy's future is one that has split opinion among supporters. With that in mind, our Manchester Evening News writers deliver their verdicts on his future and whether he should be kept on...

Tyrone Marshall

I certainly wouldn’t be against Van Nistelrooy staying. He has handled himself really well in these four games in charge, exudes class, gets the club and he clearly has talent as a coach. The players all speak very highly of him.

So much of modern coaching is about relationships, however, and this will only work if Amorim really wants and values the contribution he can make. Do they see the game in the same way? Do they have similar ideas?

Amorim is bringing a lot of staff over with him and too many chefs can become a problem. Darren Fletcher is already that link between the academy and first team, as well as a link from the first team players to the management.

Van Nistelrooy will need a more prominent role and while it would be great to see him get one, he needs to have a long discussion with Amorim to ensure they are on the same wavelength, otherwise it will do more harm than good.

Steven Railston

I had the privilege of chatting with Van Nistelrooy after a recent press conference. Our exits from the Jimmy Murphy Building coincided by chance and we had an informal chat as we walked to the car park. By the time I got to my car, I couldn't help but want Van Nistelrooy to be kept as part of Amorim's staff and my stance on the matter hasn't really changed.

Van Nistelrooy is a class act. He's handled himself brilliantly in the last few weeks, he's steadied the ship and is hugely popular with the players. There is obvious merit in keeping him at Carrington, although I do understand why a clean break would be beneficial for Amorim. With that in mind, I think the compromise would be keeping him until the end of the season.

The 48-year-old could help Amorim as he settles into his role at United and could continue to act as a link between the players. At the end of the campaign, Van Nistelrooy's work would be done and he could pursue a career in management, which seems like a sensible compromise and perhaps the best option.

George Smith

Van Nistelrooy oversaw three wins and one draw from his four games in interim charge, injecting a sense of confidence and belief back into the veins of United's players and fans. He was always going to earn the backing of the fans from the off because of his status as a player.

Van Nistelrooy clearly has the respect of the players, who bought into his methods, and having a familiar face they can turn to in Amorim's early days in charge should not do any harm at all.

United are about to enter another transitional period and Amorim could do far worse than being able to turn to a figure who knows the club inside out. Van Nistelrooy wears his heart on his sleeve and has displayed the passion levels over the past fortnight that every United supporter wants to see.

Amorim is expected to bring several members of his coaching team to Old Trafford with him, meaning it is currently unclear what role Van Nistelrooy might have to play in the Portuguese coach's plans. Nevertheless, having a figure as respected as the Dutchman in situ would represent a reliable pillar Amorim could lean on for advice and guidance as he finds his feet in England.

Van Nistelrooy has openly admitted he wants to stay and Amorim should be encouraged by that. Van Nistelrooy is United through and through.

Josh Holland

It's a pretty difficult one to get your head around but, for me, it comes down to whether Amorim wants to start with a clean slate or ensure the players have some sort of comfort blanket around them under his management.

Van Nistelrooy, obviously, is a popular figure inside the United dressing room. Under Ten Hag, you often saw him having individual chats and sharing jokes with individuals. After all, for many, he's a legend for his goalscoring days. However, can you really move forward with a mixture of the empire that sat before you?

Amorim is expected to bring his own coaching staff to Manchester meaning Van Nistelrooy's position in the dug-out is unknown. If he is informed that he won't be needed, it may be an unpopular call. But I honestly believe Amorim's best chance at succeeding at United is by starting fresh.

For Van Nistelrooy, he won't be short of offers. His short spell in charge will certainly have put eyes on his services, especially as we enter the time of year when clubs are considering a change.

Amie Wilson

Ruben Amorim’s arrival means that a difficult decision needs to be made over the future of Ruud van Nistelrooy. He has no doubt done a good job as interim manager with three wins and a draw from his four games, but it feels like his future may be away from Old Trafford.

With Amorim bringing his own staff with him, it feels like can Nistelrooy will be shoehorned in for the sake of keeping a club legend at the club if he stays. There is such a thing as too many cooks spoil the broth.

Van Nistelrooy does have managerial experience with PSV and was linked with jobs before arriving back at Old Trafford in the summer. I can see him getting a chance with a club before the end of the season as managerial changes start to be made.

His time in charge of United, only if it was short, will do him no harm. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him take over at a lower Premier League club, or a side challenging for promotion in the Championship.

Stephen Killen

All roads seem to point to a departure for Ruud van Nistelrooy. While it was short and sweet, he proved his capabilities in the dugout at Old Trafford.

But he made it no secret of his ambition to become a head coach and that could scupper his hopes of staying on in Greater Manchester. With that in mind, he has to go and earn his crust in the hotseat after only managing a mere 50 senior matches at PSV Eindhoven before taking temporary charge of United.

In order to avoid falling by the wayside, Van Nistelrooy has to strike while the iron is hot and put himself in the shop window for a managerial role, in order to stake his claim in the Premier League - which may be a job too soon.

Jake Stokes

Ruud van Nistelrooy should part ways with Manchester United and let Ruben Amorim take full control. While he's done a good job as interim boss, it's time for him to move on and further prove himself as a head coach.

The Dutchman proved that he's more than capable of taking the reins during his time at PSV Eindhoven, so he should step out of his comfort zone. Equally, the Red Devils mustn't let emotions cloud their judgement.

Van Nistelrooy is a club legend, but that doesn't mean he has a right to stay in the dugout. Amorim has his own staff, and he got on just fine at Sporting! It's time for United to just move on and turn a new page. It's these type of decisions that have held the club back for so long.