Why I’m happy to see my old mate Ruud van Nistelrooy coming to life in the spotlight and the one decision he must get right for the visit of Chelsea, writes MARTIN KEOWN
Just as my autobiography was released this week, complete with one particular photo of me jumping over Ruud van Nistelrooy on the back, there he was standing in front of all of us at Old Trafford as interim manager of Manchester United! Frankly, it was refreshing to see my old friend trying to breathe some life into that famous stadium that has been drained of all its energy for far too long.
Previously, Van Nistelrooy was very passive during his collaboration with Erik ten Hag. But not now that he himself is in the spotlight, until Ruben Amorim takes over.
Remarkably, Sunday’s visitors have not beaten Chelsea at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager, and as a proud former player, Van Nistelrooy will be desperate to maintain that record.
Amorim is an advocate for the back three and I thought it was telling that Van Nistelrooy started his temporary tenure with a back four. He had no intention of fitting in with the new manager. He set them up to suit himself and his own ideas and it led to that 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester. His team scored five goals in one night, having scored just eight in the Premier League all season.
You could see the extra effort from the group and the respect represented by his long embrace with Casemiro at the end. Even the biggest names need to feel the faith of their manager. The 32-year-old Brazilian was revived and scored twice, including a wonder goal, while also showing his passing range as he fired balls into wide men Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, which goes some way to showing why his critics have been harsh in branding from him. a bad signing.
Ruud van Nistelrooy came alive in the dugout at Old Trafford as his side put five past Leicester
However, Manchester United only scored eight goals in the Premier League all season
A revived Casemiro scored twice, including a stunning effort from about 25 yards out
One feature of Van Nistelrooy’s playing style, which Chelsea will have noticed in their analysis of the win against Leicester, was the variation in movements of right-back Diogo Dalot. At times he would fly down the right flank to cover Rashford as he cut in from the wing. At other times he himself moved into central midfield, more advanced than the two holders in Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro.
Amorim will have noted that this change in shape gave United’s players some practice in playing with at least three back players! Joshua Zirkzee dropped deep from the front line, often to the right side to help develop the play, while Bruno Fernandes also pushed through the middle in possession. However, out of possession, the 30-year-old Portuguese was often passed by as he stormed out of the pack to push through solo.
It was a liberating performance in which United played with freedom, but make no mistake: Chelsea will be a much tougher test.
This is especially the case as Enzo Maresca will take his A team to Old Trafford after misjudging their midweek Carabao Cup trip to Newcastle with a B side ultimately losing at St James’ Park.
One of the decisions Van Nistelrooy must make is who will start in central defense, as Nicolas Jackson is fast becoming one of the Premier League’s most feared strikers. No one has made more sprints this season than the Chelsea striker and he will happily eat up any space behind United’s backline knowing Cole Palmer can find him. Palmer’s vision is unparalleled. That pass for Jackson’s opener in last weekend’s 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle was on another level.
Nicolas Jackson (left) and Cole Palmer (right) form a fearsome partnership in attack
Enzo Maresca brings his A team to Old Trafford after misjudging their midweek Carabao Cup trip to Newcastle
United fans are ready to embrace a new chapter – the onus falls on Van Nistelrooy to ensure the players maintain the momentum ahead of Ruben Amorim’s arrival
Few players would have seen the ball on, let alone possessed the quality to execute the ball. Palmer plays like there’s no time to waste, desperate to make sure everyone knows how exceptional he is. Manchester City’s managers have every right to be angry that their club is not benefiting from its X-factor.
Chelsea have partnerships all over the pitch, from Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana in central defense to Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in midfield and Palmer and Jackson in attack.
Meanwhile, United fans are ready to embrace a new chapter. On Sunday, the onus will fall on Van Nistelrooy to ensure their players maintain the momentum ahead of the massive change coming under Amorim.
