Premier League: Ruud Van Nistelrooy ‘Very Proud’ As Interim Boss, Hopes To Stay On At Manchester United
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Ruben Amorim will take over as Manchester United manager as Ruud van Nistelrooy hopes to stay on as an assistant at Old Trafford.
Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy (AP)
Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of Manchester United for the final time when they play Leicester City before Portuguese Ruben Amorim takes charge but the Dutchman said on Friday that he hopes to stay on as an assistant at Old Trafford.
Amorim will leave Sporting and join United during the international break next week, with Van Nistelrooy given four games to steady the ship following the sacking of his compatriot Erik ten Hag last month.
Ahead of Amorim’s arrival, Van Nistelrooy has managed to get the fans on board again with two wins and a draw in all competitions, including a 5-2 win over Leicester in the League Cup in his first match in charge.
“It has been a special period [to take charge] and it was important to get through the four games as well as we could. We’ve done very well so far, the players reacted very well in the games. The focus is now to build on that and show that on Sunday with a big game ahead and a massive three points that are there to win,” Van Nistelrooy told reporters.
“I don’t know if it will be emotional, I take it very pragmatic as well. I’m very proud to be able to fulfil this but we’ll see how it will feel on Sunday. Other than that, there’s not much more news from yesterday evening. Ruben and I are both focusing on our teams and our games,” he added.
United have scored only nine league goals this season — one of the lowest in the division — and when asked if the club needed a proven goal scorer, the former Dutch striker said that was something they were building towards.
“I agree that when you want to be a successful side in the Premier League and in Europe, which is what the build is all about, you need a certain amount of goals. That is clear,” said Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals for United.
“That is why the best teams in the world have those players. At the moment we have players that can get a certain amount of goals and assists, but obviously they are in an age where they still have to be developed.
“There is that potential that there will be and the belief is there that they can.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
