Benni McCarthy outlines Man Utd aims under Erik ten Hag & sends warning to Man City & Liverpool

Benni McCarthy has said he will try and ‘change the mindset’ at Manchester United, and stated he wants the club to be ‘revived’ in the 2022/23 campaign.

The former Blackburn Rovers striker was named as the newest member of Erik ten Hag’s coaching team on Saturday, and was at Old Trafford the following day for the Red Devils’ 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano.

McCarthy admitted in a brief interview before the game that a lot has to be altered at the club if they want to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool soon, while also revealing the immediate aim this season is to get the team back into the Champions League.

“I’m excited and happy to be here,” the South African told MUTV. “Hopefully I’m going to help these young players push and change the mindset, and really try to make a difference to United this season.

"The mentality around the club is now completely different,” he continued. “The manager has brought what has been missing from United over the last few seasons.

“Hopefully this season we will see a completely revived United and a hungry bunch of players that are going to challenge to get into the Champions League and hopefully change the dynamics of the Citys and the Liverpools."

Speaking after the Rayo draw at the weekend, Ten Hag explained McCarthy will predominantly work with the offensive players in the squad.

“There was one place in our coaching staff that I wanted to fill,” he told MUTV. “It was someone with a different voice and Benni has experience.

“He was managing and he was a coach at a professional level. He was a former striker, and a really successful striker as well, and he will focus on the attacking stuff and the positioning.

“But not only the strikers, the integration from full-backs and from midfielders because our way of playing has to be dynamic.”

Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the team on Sunday and played 45 minutes for United at Old Trafford. It was the first time he has appeared in pre-season having only come back to training on Tuesday.