Ruud van Nistelrooy signed off with a win as Manchester United powered to a 3-0 win over Leicester City at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes’ fine finish from outside the box opened the scoring on the occasion of his 250th appearance for the club and the captain helped double the advantage when his effort was deflected into the net for an own goal by Victor Kristiansen before the break.
There was time for another spectacular goal from distance in the second half when Alejandro Garnacho emerged from the bench to curl the ball into the top corner with Fernandes the architect once more. The goals are finally flowing again for United.
Leicester had the odd moment, Andre Onana saving from Wilfred Ndidi, but the result makes it three wins and a draw from Van Nistelrooy’s four games before he hands over to Ruben Amorim. United are up to 12th in the table. The Foxes stay down in 15th.
Van Nistelrooy puts smiles on face again
The Stretford End roared his name as he left the pitch, Van Nistelrooy receiving another rousing ovation in the stadium where he was once such a hero as a player. This cameo as a caretaker manager has been significant in its own way, already lifting the gloom.
Three wins from four, the goals flowing once again, one can only wonder what Erik ten Hag makes of all this, no doubt telling himself that his team were on the cusp of this regardless, but the mood has changed. The handover to Amorim now comes with hope.
These United fans know a thing or two about false dawns in recent years, even the dangers of believing the appointment of a former favourite in front of goal can change everything – but in that sense perhaps the club have finally got this one right.
Rather than giving Van Nistelrooy a long-term contract as manager, he has performed his functioning in cleansing the spirit at Old Trafford, allowing everyone to look forward with optimism. Whatever happens next, this was a special day for him and the fans.
Grumbles growing at Cooper’s Leicester
A defeat at Old Trafford even with Manchester United so diminished would not ordinarily be enough to cause such fan frustration but Steve Cooper was on the receiving end of chants from the away end of ‘Cooper, sort it out’ during the second half of the game.
The former Nottingham Forest boss has the Foxes outside of the relegation zone on their return to the Premier League but performances have not been fluent and a series of odd decisions at set plays seemed to infuriate the visiting supporters in Manchester.
Leicester could have leapfrogged United with victory in this game so clearly the margins are tight but they are now only three points from safety following Ipswich’s surprise win at Tottenham. Sticking together is key but that looks difficult. The grumbles are growing.
