Erik ten Hag has suffered an early blow to his hopes of bringing back the glory days to Manchester United.
The 52-year-old is currently organising his backroom Old Trafford team but has been knocked back by a trusted confidant. Dutch coach Fred Rutten has revealed that he recently turned down Ten Hag's offer to join him in Manchester, instead choosing to be part of new PSV boss and former Red Devils striker Ruud van Nistelrooy's coaching staff.
While Ten Hag is expected to take his assistant at Ajax, Mitchell van der Gaag, along with him, Rutten - former manager of PSV, Feyenoord Twente, Schalke and Anderlecht - has declined the chance to work at Old Trafford and gave a clear explanation why.