Gary Neville has praised Erik ten Hag for adding Steve McClaren to his backroom staff at Manchester United.
It was announced earlier this week that McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag had been appointed as Ten Hag's assistant coaches. The pair were both in attendance alongside Ten Hag at United's final game of the season at Crystal Palace last weekend.
Van der Gaag and McClaren have both enjoyed successful spells working with Ten Hag and the latter obviously has previous knowledge of United. McClaren worked under Sir Alex Ferguson for two trophy-laden years between 1999 and 2001.
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McClaren won the Treble, two more Premier League titles and the Club World Cup during that two-year stint at United.
He'll be hoping he can help Ten Hag bring silverware back to Old Trafford and Neville has delivered his verdict on his return. The United legend compared McClaren's comeback to Pep Guardiola's decision to work with Brian Kidd at Manchester City.
“I think Ten Hag comes as a successful coach, a coach that’s won, a coach that’s got belief and knows how to build an idea,” Neville told United's in-house media.
"I think he does need someone alongside him on the side of the pitch that can tell him about different stadiums, referees, different things that happen culturally in England around matches.
“Steve McClaren’s got vast experience, not just at Manchester United but obviously in English football. I see Steve’s role, to be fair, as more akin to what Brian Kidd did with Pep Guardiola for many years.
“I’ve done quite a lot of City games over the years [for television] and just that little voice that says ‘look Pep, you’re at this ground today, this is what it’s like’ and it’s just that type of advice that ultimately the new manager will need.
“[Erik]’s got Darren Fletcher there as well and there are other people at the club who have experience as well but it does seem like a new beginning, there is a lot of turnover of people, people leaving, a new start.
“I think, off the back of the last 12 months, it’s imperative that happens.”
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