- Ruud van Nistelrooy directed Man United to a rip-roaring 5-2 win over Leicester
- Sir Alex Ferguson spoke with the Dutch interim boss ahead of the cup clash
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Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed that he spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson before taking charge of his first game as Manchester United’s interim manager.
United beat Leicester 5-2 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night after Van Nistelrooy took temporary charge in the wake of Erik ten Hag’s sacking on Monday.
Although the former United striker fell out with Ferguson before leaving Old Trafford in 2006 to join Real Madrid, the two men have long since buried the hatchet and the Dutchman received a good luck message from the legendary United boss before his first game.
‘Yes I spoke to him, and he wished me luck,’ said Van Nistelrooy. ‘We spoke shortly about my situation and about the team. Most of all he wished me luck, it’s always great to speak to him.’
Asked if he ever thought he would back at United in these circumstances after the way he left 18 years ago, the Dutchman added: ‘No, at the time I wasn’t thinking about that, to manage. I left in 2006 for Real Madrid to perform and to play and to get the most out of yourself as a player.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was caretaker boss as Man United beat Leicester City 5-2 on Wednesday
Sir Alex Ferguson – with whom he once fell out – wished him luck ahead of the Old Trafford tie
Casemiro scored twice as United found their scoring boots in their first game after the sacking of Erik ten Hag on Monday
‘After that, I started to think about coaching. It was special to come back to the club and the city that I love.
‘I enjoy it. I enjoy being around Manchester, the players and staff, although there’s not many still around.’
Van Nistelrooy also gave an insight into what he said to the players before sending them out to reach the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with an exciting win over Leicester.
He added: ‘You try to transmit that lovely feeling of playing for the club: the team talk standing in front of the team, telling them what Manchester United is about and to play at Old Trafford. What songs are being sung by the fans and why.
‘It is a proud moment to do that and share that, and also the way I interacted with the supporters. It only strengthens me to do the utmost and for Sunday against Chelsea.’
