Former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy has opened up about his spell with the Premier League giants. The ChampionsLeague-winning striker was recruited by Erik ten Hag during the Dutchman's reign.

Now 48, he's returned to management with the Kenyan national side. Whilst he had previous managerial stints with South African clubs before his Old Trafford move, he remains convincedhe brought valuable knowledge to United's hierarchy while even believing he could teach Cristiano Ronaldo a thing or two.

"I went to Man United knowing that perhaps it was outside my depth, because I had coached Cape Town City, AmaZulu, and there they were asking me to coach top players at Man United," McCarthy told Creamer Media TV (via A Bola). "Was I just going to learn? That wasn't my mindset or my state of mind...

"They asked me to come and do a job. I'll show them. Yes, they may know many things, but they don't know everything, so I could teach them some things they didn't know."

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During his United tenure, former Blackburn and West Ham star McCarthy worked alongside Champions League and World Cup champions as well as some long-serving United favourites. Big-name stars including Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and the aforementioned Ronaldo crossed his path, yet he maintains he wasn't intimidated by their presence.

"That was my mindset when I went there, I'm not there to learn, I'm also there to make a change and make a difference," he added. "To improve the situation and learn as much as I can from everything I'm giving there, and then also take something from everyone else."

United beat Newcastle to lift the Carabao Cup during that debut campaign and followed it up with a run to FA Cup glory the year after. McCarthy departed when his two-year deal expired, with Ten Hag being dismissed just months afterwards.

Kenya had already missed out on qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations before McCarthy assumed control, whilst they came fourth in their World Cup qualifying section. Their boss is now managing players with fewer accolades than during his time in Manchester, but maintains he was never intimidated by United's elite talent.

"Even Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players in the world, could still teach him something he didn't know, because I've been on this earth longer than him and I've done it before him, so there was something he could learn from me," he added.

"So why should I feel 'wow' ? Admire him because he's Ronaldo and be here to learn. No, I'm here to give back, and that was my mentality, and that's why I feel I've been successful [at United]."

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