Erik ten Hag ‘suffers major blow in Man Utd power struggle as trusted assistant leaves club’
ERIK TEN HAG’S trusted assistant Mitchell van der Gaag is understood to have left Manchester United.
The Dutchman has been Ten Hag’s right-hand man for the two years he has been in charge at the Red Devils.
Van der Gaag also worked with the United boss during his previous tenure at Ajax.
The club’s overhaul of their backroom staff has seen former Red Devils striker Ruud van Nistelrooy return to Old Trafford and Rene Hake join the coaching team.
But this has meant Van der Gaag’s time with Ten Hag is understood to have ended.
The 52-year-old was popular amongst the United players with the ability to speak five different languages including English, Spanish and Portuguese.
It is still not certain whether the former PSV star’s exit was Ten Hag’s decision or the leadership team and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s, following their end-of-season review.
Van Nistelrooy and Hake arrived at United’s Carrington training complex yesterday morning.
The club are yet to release a statement on Van der Gaag’s exit but former England coach Steve McClaren who is a part of Ten Hag’s coaching staff is understood to be staying at United.
McClaren is close with Ratcliffe’s right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford.
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United will unveil its coaching staff after Van Nistelrooy and Hake’s contracts and work visas are confirmed.
The Red Devils returned to training yesterday and will travel to Norway on Monday to play Rosenborg in their first pre-season friendly followed by Ranger in Edinburgh on Jul 21.
And at the end of the month Ten Hag’s squad will head on a two-week pre-season tour of the US where they face Arsenal in LA, Real Betis in San Diego and Liverpool in Columbia.
They then return to the UK ahead of the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 10.
England outcasts Harry Maguire, Mason Mount and Marcus Rashford are those included on the trip.
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