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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Steven Railston

Manchester United fans spot Mitchell van der Gaag's reaction to Benni McCarthy in dugout

Mitchell van der Gaag acknowledged Benni McCarthy after Marcus Rashford scored against West Ham at the weekend, gesturing to suggest the coach had a role to play in the goal.

Van der Gaag and Steve McClaren were appointed as Erik ten Hag's assistant coaches at Manchester United in the summer and the addition of Benni McCarthy to the backroom staff followed, with the South African joining as a striker coach.

Ten Hag also decided to keep Eric Ramsay, who is United's set-piece coach, while Richard Hartis and Craig Mawson remained as the goalkeeping coaches, but it was the addition of McCarthy that came as the biggest surprise.

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In footage from Sunday's match shared by United on their social media channels, Ten Hag and Van der Gaag stand up to celebrate Rashford's goal before the assistant coach appears to shout 'Benni!' in the direction of McCarthy, with Ten Hag also nodding in the direction of the former Blackburn striker.

Ten Hag was asked about the appointment of McCarthy, who is a boyhood United fan, before the start of the season and he explained he had been brought to Old Trafford to 'focus on the positioning and attacking stuff' with the forwards

The Dutchman also lauded McCarthy's wealth of experience in the game and he seemed to recognise the striker coach's value again at the weekend, alongside Van der Gaag, when Rashford leapt up to powerfully head home United's winner.

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