Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted with the work of Rene Meulensteen.

United face Ajax in the Europa League tonight and Ferguson was asked about Dutchman Meulensteen's influence.

Ferguson said: "Rene Meulensteen's done a fantastic job. He's a great coach. He initially joined us to form our Academy system some years back. He did that job very well. When we lost a Reserve coach to Bolton [Ricky Sbragia] I stepped him up. Then Rene got an offer to go to Brondby as manager. I told him not to do it but he went. That proves the Dutch aren't that intelligent after all!

"But he only stayed three months there and he didn't enjoy it. Then he became our Development Coach and he did a good job at that and then when Carlos Queiroz left [and promoted Mike Phelan to assistant manager] I made him my first-team coach."