Manchester United striker coach Benni McCarthy has turned out to be one of the unsung heroes of the club’s season.
McCarthy was hired to Erik ten Hag‘s coaching staff in late July, after reportedly impressing the manager during a trial period, The Mirror reported at the time.
The Athletic had reported how contact with McCarthy was first made in May, with the former South Africa striker first thought of as an under-23 coach.
Erik ten Hag was so impressed by McCarthy that he brought him in to complete his coaching set up.
McCarthy is United’s unsung hero
Benni McCarthy was so keen to take the role with Ten Hag’s first team that he did not even ask the job salary before accepting the role, The Mail reported.
This only adds to the positive way McCarthy is viewed. He has played a key role in the rejuvenation of Marcus Rashford, who is enjoying a career best season with 24 goals so far.
Anthony Martial is claimed to have enjoyed working with McCarthy, while Jadon Sancho has held one on one sessions by request, The Mail report.
In addition to his work on the training ground, McCarthy regularly interacts positively with United’s stars on Instagram, showing the connection he has with the players.
Erik ten Hag told MUTV at the time how he decided on hiring McCarthy, who had experience of Premier League football from his playing days at Blackburn Rovers.
He said: “There was still one place in our coaching staff that I wanted to fill. 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 was a former striker — a really successful striker as well. He will focus on positioning and attacking. I’m not saying only for the strikers, but also the integration from the full-backs and midfielders.”
McCarthy once haunted Manchester United with Porto in the Champions League back in 2004. But he is now making it all up to the Red Devils.
His hard work on the training ground has played a part in United still pushing in four competitions in late February. But as McCarthy would surely note, there is plenty more hard work ahead.
Manchester United ready to listen to offers for midfielder
As per Football Insider, United are ready to listen to offers for Scotland international Scott McTominay.
It is claimed that the club will consider selling the player this summer and are confident that they can demand £25 million for him.
McTominay looks likely to eave Old Trafford this summer
McTominay, 26, has been a regular for United over the past few seasons, but he has fallen slightly out of favour since Ten Hag’s arrival last summer.
This term, the Scot has only started seven Premier League matches, with Casemiro and Eriksen starting the season as the Dutchman’s first choice pairing.
Brazilian Fred has also been preferred to McTominay, who failed to take advantage of Eriksen’s recent injury as Sabitzer has joined the club and instantly become a regular starter ahead of him.
In total, McTominay has made 195 appearances for The Red Devils, although it appears increasingly likely that his time at Old Trafford could be coming to an end.
The midfielder’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2025 which means United are under little pressure to sell, but regardless of that it appears that those in charge at Old Trafford are ready to cash in.
Ten Hag has reportedly been told by the board that players will have to be sold in order to raise funds for further signings this summer and McTominay, who spent 15 years win the club’s youth system, is one of those likely to leave.
