Ruud van Nistelrooy looked at his inquisitor with the same cold stare that will be familiar to a generation of Premier League goalkeepers.
So had he spoken to Ruben Amorim or considered setting up his team with one eye on the takeover of Manchester United’s new manager later this month?
“Has it been announced yet?” the Dutchman replied bluntly. ‘Obviously I’m not going to talk to someone who hasn’t been announced, that makes sense to me. We’ll see what the future will bring.’
And that’s the problem. For Van Nistelrooy. For Amorim. For the players of both clubs for the next three matches, it seems.
No one knows exactly what is going on at the moment, although it now seems inevitable that Amorin will be confirmed as United’s sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is interim boss of Manchester United after the departure of Erik ten Hag
Ruben Amorim is about to be appointed, but it is unclear when his arrival will be confirmed
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co must finally close the deal for Amorim and provide clarity for the club
Sporting Lisbon’s coach has vowed to put an end to what he called the “soap opera” surrounding United’s move to appoint him as Erik ten Hag’s successor at Old Trafford after Friday’s match against Estrela da Amadora. It was an appropriate wording.
Until then, no one dares say his name at United, hence Van Nistelrooy’s sharp response on Thursday as he held his first press conference as acting boss ahead of Sunday’s visit to Chelsea. It is expected that he will also continue to take charge of matches against PAOK Salonika and Leicester.
Even if Amorim can’t start his new job until November 10, this needs to be resolved. Uncertainty is never a good thing at a football club, and Amorim admitted it has caused anxiety among his players at an important stage of the season.
After Estrela, Sporting will play a Champions League match against Manchester City in Portugal on Tuesday evening. It has already been confirmed that their director of football Hugo Viana will take on a similar role at City next season.
By the time they kick off at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, Amorim will also have been appointed United manager, and his backroom team will join him at Old Trafford.
No wonder Sporting struck a hard bargain in talks with United, insisting the 39-year-old would stay on for three more games and wanting an additional £900,000 on top of his £8.3m release clause to take him to Manchester to leave. two weeks early.
When United director Sir Dave Brailsford started the rumor mill by telling fans the deal was done when he arrived at Old Trafford for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup tie against Leicester, and the video clip circulated on social media, Sporting were quick to issue an explanation off to A Bola.
The Sporting Lisbon coach promised to put an end to what he called the ‘soap opera’ around the move
Van Nistelrooy, who spoke to the media on Thursday evening, is even in the dark
Even though United defeated Leicester comfortably, the situation is causing unrest within the team
“Sporting has not yet reached an agreement on the departure of Ruben Amorim and has not yet received any amount regarding the termination clause,” it read.
While it’s hard to blame United for the speed with which they identified Ten Hag’s replacement and made their move, things have become messy since Sporting took an official approach.
Amorim has recognized the need to bring some clarity to the situation as soon as possible, even if those involved in the negotiations do not seem eager to let the outside world know what is going on.
Meanwhile, Van Nistelrooy is stuck in the middle answering tough questions and managing a team, even if he doesn’t know if that will see him return to assistant manager and get the role he wants in the new order.
United’s last interim manager Ralf Rangnick was meant to stay on as an advisor under Ten Hag, but lasted less than five minutes when the Dutchman walked through the door in 2022.
“We’ll see, but it’s a contract situation I’m in,” Van Nistelrooy said, specifically referring to the fact that he still has a contract until the end of June 2026.
‘I’m going back to my assistant contract that I have here for this season and next season. I am very motivated to stay here and help the club move forward, that is my absolute goal.
‘I want to help. I, like many others, want to do everything I can to fight for this club. The club is in a difficult situation and it is not where we all want it to be.”
Another reporter told Van Nistelrooy he suspected his appearance in front of the media in Carrington on Thursday meant he would be in charge of the match against Chelsea after overseeing the win over Leicester.
Ralf Rangnick, the last interim boss, was expected to stay on as a consultant, but he quickly left
Van Nistelrooy is in the middle of it, answers difficult questions and tries to cope
“I think so too,” was the reply. ‘In the short term I’m in this position and I’m only thinking about one thing, which is to do our best for every game that comes up, and that’s a big one for Sunday’s game against Chelsea.’
Van Nistelrooy spoke well on Thursday in difficult circumstances. He described for the first time Ten Hag’s reaction to his dismissal on Monday after both men were called to the training field.
“I saw him here on Monday and spoke to him before the game yesterday,” he said. “I really felt he cared and loved the club and wanted to take it forward. That’s why he is hurt that he had to leave, but also proud of his achievements here.’
He described a separate conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson after he had long buried the hatchet over his acrimonious departure to Real Madrid 18 years ago.
‘We spoke briefly about my situation and above all he wished me good luck for the match.
Inevitably, Amorin will be confirmed as United’s sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, but they must sort out the final details as soon as possible.
‘I left in 2006 – oh my God, what a long time ago! – but I must say that it was special to return to the club and the city that I loved so much and still love.’
Then there was the pride he felt during his first team speech on Wednesday. ‘I stand in front of the team and tell them what Manchester United stands for, what it is like to play at Old Trafford, what songs the fans sing and why. You try to convey that wonderful feeling of playing for this club.’
Yet Van Nistelrooy knows that it must come to an end. And the sooner the better for everyone.