”I think it’s always great to have such icons in. While he did fantastic here at Manchester United, I think he is also an icon for the fans and our players can learn a lot from him. His experience, his skill and he did some exercises with our strikers, they loved it, to be involved him. We want to help Robin van Persie. He is now planning a management career, so we give him the opportunity to look around, get experiences and hopefully it will help him to construct his career. He is really fanatic, and he really consists of the fact he wants to become a manager. He is taking the right steps, and one day, he will be a manager.”
We have just recently got through to the next round of the Carabao Cup and we’ve been drawn Charlton Athletic – what’s your thoughts on that draw?
”It’s good, we have a home game that I’m happy with but we have to beat everyone. When you want to win a cup, it doesn’t matter who you draw. But, as I said, I’m happy we’re playing at home and Charlton we’re looking forward [to facing]. First, we have other games to deal with, but once we face them, we will prepare very well. It’s a great opportunity and also for that game, we have to be ready to get the right result and the only result is to get into the next round.”
For us, the World Cup break was very new here, that break in the winter time, however in the Netherlands at this time of year, it’s normal that you have this break every season. So, what was it like having that break and is it different to you now having to play games at this time?
”Yeah, it’s different. Obviously as a manager [I haven’t experienced it before]. I was a coach and on the coaching staff I had that experience in the Netherlands as well, but it was only an experiment and after that they quit [on the idea]. So, I am looking forward to the Christmas period, a lot of games coming up, you see a lot of excitement around the fans, they are looking forward to the games after they enjoy their family days. We want them to come to the stadium to watch a proper football game. You see the excitement in the dressing room as well, so we are looking forward to it. I have the energy because we had some weeks off to get that in, we did the work we had to do and now we have to get ready for the restart.”