An open letter to Rene Meulensteen from a Manchester United fan

Dear Rene,

I am writing this to you after feeling nothing but despair after your departure from Old Trafford. When Sir Alex retired once and for all, twilight set in Old Trafford and the next day was not pleasant by any stretch of imagination.

In the past few years, it has been a familiar sight to see you guiding Sir Alex throughout the matches sitting alongside him. While many of the “so-called plastic fans” may not know you, those whose heart is set at Old Trafford have been longing to see you back.

Sir Alex’s last words precisely were, “ your job now is to stand by our new manager” . I, for one remember every word of the speech that left many a person shedding tears. For all that Sir Alex said, I truly hoped and wished from the deepest corner of my heart that a Mourinho or Moyes not take up the job.

I wanted you to take up the mantle, the task of managing the most popular team in the world. I was sure no one could do it better than you, after all you were the one who knew United’s current players the best. They have all grown into what they at the familiar hands of yours. Sir Alex himself, heaped praise on you.

If there was one man I would attribute for what Ronaldo is today, it is you. Believe me; this thought clouded my mind when people would argue that Jose Mourinho made Ronaldo what he is today. Thinking of the United-Ronaldo story, I still do not forget the day Real Madrid stole the prodigal son of United. The price never mattered, for one couldn’t simply lose a player as good as Ronaldo.

He was arguably the best player in the world at that time; still he is even though Messi is often battling for the spot. While many believed Ronaldo was fostered at the hands of Sir Alex, few really knew the man who was doing the work behind the scenes.( No offense, to SAF) He came to United as a talented player, Sir Alex made him into a world-class player and you won him the Ballon d’or.

In life, often the man who is off the stage is never really recognized. It often coincides that the man behind the curtains never really wants the praises. It often strikes me as to why Anzhi Makachkala fired you after just 16 days of hiring. Surely, had they not done that, they could have had a better season.

Many fail to differentiate between a coach and a manager. As much as I could say that Sir Alex was the best manager ever, I would definitely say you were one of the best coaches Manchester United ever had.

When I learnt that David Moyes was assuming the position of Sir Alex, I hoped that you wouldn’t leave Old Trafford. Even though the world thinks you refused the job candidly, I realized that it was because you wanted the new manager to have his surroundings in the club.

When I first learnt that you would leave, I was not the happiest person on Earth. I, was in fact hoping that you would do some kind of a U-turn and return to work with Moyes. But you left for a higher job, a greater role, something which I rightfully should have been given to you at Old Trafford. Instead, you left the wet turf of England to the snowy surfaces of Russia.

As much as I was disappointed in seeing you leave, one thing kept the clock ticking for me. Though you had left, you had not left it barren. I could see the way Adnan Janujaz and Jesse Lingard played. Then I knew, they were your farewell gift to United.

Since the dawn of the new era, United has yet to find its feet under the new manager. The legs of United are now dangling in the air and the team is languishing in the bottom half of the table. The new manger, for all he’s done, has failed to bring out the best of the team.

I still hope that you find a ray of light beaming though Old Trafford and see fit to return. For all I can say, Carrington Road has been a duller place since you left. Your return could see the making of United’s newest line of players into the class of ’13. I see fit to include Janujaz, Lingard, Powell, Zaha, Keane and many others into the list.

Carrington Road and Old Trafford are always open to you and how I wish you would listen to me.

Return to Old Trafford, your absence has been felt mightily and I believe it is a gaping hole impossible to plunge.

Even if you choose to stay away from Old Trafford, I hope you succeed anywhere you go and continue to produce great players.

Yours Sincerely

A lost fan