Ruud van Nistelrooy’s situation in Premier League management is quite exceptional. It’s unusual for a manager experiencing such a poor run of form to be given as many chances as he has.
Among managers who have overseen at least 15 games with the same Premier League club, only two have a worse losing record than van Nistelrooy’s 80 percent.
Those managers, Mick McCarthy with Sunderland (84 percent) and Russell Martin with Southampton (81 percent), may have been allowed to extend their tenure due to the goodwill they earned from securing promotion to the Premier League.
What makes van Nistelrooy different is that there are no past achievements keeping him in his role. So, what explains his continued position in charge?
It’s possible the club’s hierarchy feels he has improved the team’s performances compared to Steve Cooper’s tenure, despite the unfortunate results. That argument holds some weight, as van Nistelrooy has overseen the best and worst performances of the season.
Perhaps there’s also a sense that the Dutchman is working with a limited squad. Van Nistelrooy himself has acknowledged the challenge of survival with the current players, and it’s not as if other promoted clubs aren’t struggling as well.
Another possibility is that the club doesn’t see a better manager available to replace him. There could also be concerns about the financial impact of sacking him, particularly with regard to the club’s PSR standing, which could lead to punishment.
Whatever the reason, van Nistelrooy’s position remains unique. While his comments after the defeat to Brentford seemed like a manager on the verge of giving up, his recent statements – committing to stay if the team is relegated – and his attempt to change things tactically at Chelsea suggest he hasn’t thrown in the towel just yet.
But of course, he has his reputation to consider. If City are relegated and van Nistelrooy is dismissed, he will want to have something positive to point to.
For any potential future employers, the focus may shift from his time at PSV or his brief stint at United to his poor points return at City.
It’s rare for a manager like van Nistelrooy to be given such an opportunity to recover from a dreadful spell. He’ll certainly be eager to avoid being remembered alongside McCarthy and Martin at the season’s end.
The change in system at Chelsea represents his attempt to seize that opportunity. He’ll be hoping it brings results, with a win against Manchester United this weekend a key target.
For City, if patience is the reason behind keeping van Nistelrooy, they’ll be hoping that decision pays off.
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