Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has shed light on the thought process behind adding former Blackburn Rovers star Benni McCarthy to his ever-growing team of backroom staff.
The 44-year-old ex-Premier League goal-getter only stepped down from his post as coach of Durban-based outfit AmaZulu earlier this year but is looking to get back into coaching - this time at the highest level. Though McCarthy is a self-confessed boyhood United fan, his lasting legacy in the eyes of the Old Trafford faithful is scoring two goals for Porto to dump the Red Devils out of the Champions League in 2004.
McCarthy is a close friend of Ten Hag's right-hand man Mitchell van der Gaag and is expected to take on a specialist role coaching the United attackers. The ex-South Africa international was present at Old Trafford for Sunday's pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano and is expected to be in the dugout again for the first game of the season this weekend.
"There was still one place in our coaching staff that I wanted to fill," Ten Hag told MUTV. "Someone with a different voice and Benni is that one. He has experience as a manager. He was a coach in the professional level and he was a former striker, a really successful striker as well."
Ten Hag went on to explain the specifications of McCarthy's new role, adding: "He will focus on the positioning and attacking, I'm not saying only the strikers, but also the integration from the full-backs and midfielders. Our way of play has to be dynamic."
Upon official confirmation of his role at the club, McCarthy shed light on his support for United when he was a child. "I support Man United and always wanted to play for them, I loved players like Mark Hughes, Andy Cole and Ryan Giggs."
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The ex-Ewood Park star also boasts history with Ajax which makes him part of a lengthy list at United. McCarthy joined the Dutch giants in 1997 and helped them win the Eredivisie title alongside two domestic cups.
After a dismal season last time around, it goes without saying that United's attack is in dire need of improvement and McCarthy's expertise could help the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho rediscover their form in front of goal.
United managed just 57 goals last Premier League season - a feeble effort by their own high standards that saw them end the campaign with a goal difference of zero. That tally also saw them finish the season with the lowest amount of goals scored by any of the big-six sides.
