Rene Meulensteen verdict on Manchester United trophy chances amid Erik ten Hag job links

Erik ten Hag is set to be appointed Man United manager and Rene Meulensteen could return as assistant.

Rene Meulensteen has already outlined his views on the future of Manchester United amid suggestions could return to Old Trafford as assistant manager. Manchester United are set to appoint Erik ten Hag and Ajax expect their coach to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a permanent basis.

Key figures at United maintain that no deal has been formalised, although it appears to be a matter of time before Ten Hag officially takes the reigns. Manchester Evening News revealed three weeks ago the Dutchman was viewed as a preferred candidate amid competition from Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino.

As for Meulensteen, the 58-year-old has been mooted as a possible assistant. Currently working in a similar role in the Australia national team set-up, the fellow Dutchman spent six seasons at Old Trafford under their legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson and also spent time developing Academy players.

READ MORE: Four players would benefit from Manchester United appointing Erik ten Hag

Moving forward, Ten Hag and United have a decision to make when it comes to putting together the backroom team. But how does Meulensteen view his previous spells at the club?

During an interview with MUFC media last summer, Meulensteen said: "When I look back on that period of my life, only great memories come into my head. At that time, between 2007 and his retirement, Sir Alex reached the highest pinnacle you can reach as a manager.

"He was very experienced in the sense that he had won so much, but had also sampled some lesser times of not winning things. The core ideas of his coaching and management were fully crystallised by that stage.

"His approach to playing entertaining, attacking football never left him and - absolutely crucially - he was able to constantly move with the times. However fast the game evolved with technology, or sports science and with the development of the players themselves, he always managed to keep pace with everything.

"There was never a chance United would be left behind."

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