Former England and Middlesbrough manager McClaren is back in the Old Trafford dugout for the forthcoming campaign as part of new United boss Erik ten Hag’s backroom team, with the pair having worked together during their time in the Netherlands.
Ten Hag was previously part of McClaren’s team during the latter’s time in charge of Eredivisie club FC Twente, but now roles have reversed and McClaren will assist the Dutchman alongside former Ajax number two Mitchell van der Gaag.
McClaren was previously United assistant during Sir Alex Ferguson’s time in charge of the club, joining the club in the months preceding the 1999 treble success.
Now the 61-year-old says that the current squad has a positive attitude ahead of the start of the Premier League season this weekend, despite the distraction of Ronaldo’s public desire to leave the club just a year after making his own unexpected return.
‘This group have been fantastic,’ McClaren said. ‘I get a great feeling. ‘I’ve been into many, many dressing rooms and many for the first two, three, four weeks you kind of know and can smell it. I’ve got a good feeling about this dressing room.’
McClaren also believes that United’s players are already demonstrating significant improvement in training sessions.
‘These are great players to work with. They were a little quiet the first week when the training was very demanding. But as we got to know the players, as we got more and more into training sessions and they know the demands, the intensity, the competition, the winning and losing, the banter that goes along with it, you can feel the noise and the volume in training, in the dressing room, around the hotel and around Carrington, start to build.
‘That’s what I like, that’s why I enjoy coaching, that’s why I enjoy coming back here because these are damn-good players. You can see that.’
The Red Devils begin their Premier League campaign with a match at home against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday 7 August at 2pm.
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