RUUD VAN NISTELROOY faces a crunch meeting tomorrow that may decide his Old Trafford future.
And the Manchester United legend hopes his CV of handling life with two world giants of football will seal a place on Ruben Amorim’s new-look backroom team.
Van Nistelrooy’s four-game spell as interim chief ends after today’s home clash with Leicester, when he is set to return to the coaching role he held under Erik ten Hag.
He signed a two-year deal this summer to rejoin the club where he is a goalscoring legend but there has still been no contact from the incoming Portuguese head coach.
It means the Dutch cult hero is only likely to discover if Amorim wants to keep him on when the SIXTH manager in the decade since Sir Alex Ferguson retired starts work in the morning.
And Van Nistelrooy, 48, will head to United’s Carrington training ground expecting to pick up where he left off in the backroom set-up — unless Amorim decides otherwise.
Van Nistelrooy certainly expects it to be business as usual tomorrow.
He admitted: “As it is, definitely, so let’s wait and see how that goes.
“I am calm to be fair, trusting in the process and believing the outcome will be good. I am here at Manchester United and that is my focus.
“Whenever the communication takes place, I will see. But obviously we also know what the time frames are, so I am aware.”
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Whether Amorim is equally aware is doubtful and the spotlight of two title wins with Sporting Lisbon is nothing compared to the glare he will be under at Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy knows all about that, after five years with United, followed by four with Real Madrid, when every move at both clubs was headline news.
He remembers realising life would never be the same on a pre-season tour to the Far East after signing from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven — and the chaotic scenes that greeted him.
Van Nistelrooy revealed: “For me it was when we landed in Bangkok in 2001 and I saw 100,000 people at the airport. That’s when I thought ‘ooh!’
“That’s when you realise what it is on a worldwide scale and, at Real Madrid, it’s similar — wherever you go, the attention.
“In Madrid, I experienced microscopic views and intensity, 20 pages in the papers every day, radio stations, social media…
“When you go to manage or play for the biggest clubs that’s part of it. All over the world really, United is there.
“But that’s also the challenge — to play and manage this club is a huge responsibility and I see that as a challenge whoever is here.”
Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man Utd
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.
It is a gauntlet and a glare which has seen the back of managerial giants like Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho in the post-Fergie era.
Van Nistelrooy says the key to success is not a big-name reputation but raw talent and making sure the spotlight does not affect your focus on the job.
He added: “It’s about the talent of a person that is the most important thing.
“Big name, small name, call it anything you want… in the end it’s the person.
“In the end, you learn to bring it down to focusing on the job, performing as a player or coach and dealing with those circumstances.
“That’s a big responsibility — we are all aware of it, but it’s also a challenge.”
Van Nistelrooy won one Premier League title in his Old Trafford days, before heading for Spain in 2006, and would love to help bring the glory days back to the red half of Manchester.
He added: “The target is clear, to improve from where we are now. That will take time and hard work but that is the challenge for me.”
Man Utd ratings vs PAOK
SUNSPORT’S Phil Thomas reveals which Man Utd players would have impressed incoming boss Ruben Amorim against PAOK.
ANDRE ONANA – 6
One great tipover to keep out a Camara half-volley.
But any other stops were pretty routine.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6
Another solid, if unspectacular, display.
An increasingly dependable presence by the week.
VICTOR LINDELOF – 6
Flat-footed once in the first half, but rarely flustered thereafter.
Started a few attacks as well.
JONNY EVANS – 6
Wise old head at the back.
But lucky to get away with going AWOL for one second half chance.
DIOGO DALOT – 4
Usually reliable, but shoddy with so much of what he did, and his delivery wasn’t great either.
Surprising he wasn’t hooked earlier.
CASEMIRO – 6
Starting point for most of what United did going forward.
Although that wasn’t a great deal to be honest.
MANUEL UGARTE – 5
Still far from the midfield general United hoped.
Distribution disappointing too. No shock when subbed off.
AMAD – 8 (STAR MAN)
Livewire runs, impressive closing down, the crucial opening goal…and a stunning second.
United’s best player by some distance.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 7
Knocked some marvellous passes, always looking to create.
At least someone was!
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 6
Close with one header and a couple of decent runs, but all in all a quiet night.
Hooked.
RASMUS HOJLUND – 5
One early header aside, little to work with apart from chasing hopeful balls.
No clear sights of goal, either.
SUBS
Rashford (for Garnacho 64) 6
Eriksen (for Ugarte 64) 6
Martinez (for Dalot 64) 6
Mount (for Amad 81) 6
Zirkzee (for Hojlund 90) N/A
