New Delhi: Ruud van Nistelrooy will handle media duties ahead of Manchester United’s big Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday, making it quite clear Ruben Amorim won’t be leading United this weekend. Talks continue between United and Sporting Lisbon over releasing Amorim, but timing remains tricky. Sporting have a league game against Estrela on Friday, followed by a Champions League showdown with Manchester City in Lisbon next Tuesday.
Sources in Portugal claim Sporting is asking for around €5 million (£4.2 million) as compensation for Amorim’s staff to join him at Old Trafford. However, United haven’t confirmed these details, and it’s not entirely off the table that Amorim could stay with Sporting until the November international break.
🚨Ruud van Nistelrooy:
“Get a lot of the ball, attack and try to give the fans a good night.” pic.twitter.com/FiLgrymqVg
— Morgan (@utdscope) October 30, 2024
Van Nistelrooy, who had a successful five-year stint as a United player, will be in charge for his first game when United face Leicester City in the Carabao Cup round of 16 on Wednesday. He stepped in as interim manager after Erik ten Hag’s exit, leaving United in a worrying 14th place in the Premier League.
It’s still uncertain if Van Nistelrooy, who managed PSV Eindhoven in 2022 before becoming Ten Hag’s assistant this summer, will stay on if Amorim joins. For now, though, he’s enthusiastic about leading United, sharing that the club “can be unstoppable” when players, staff, and fans unite. In his notes before the Leicester match, Van Nistelrooy expressed what an “honour” it is to manage United, even temporarily.
Reflecting on his reasons for rejoining United as assistant manager, he wrote about his belief that the club could return to the high standards it held during his playing days. But he’s realistic, noting it will take patience and effort. He acknowledged flashes of the squad’s potential this season, though they’ve lacked consistency.
