Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has expressed his desire to see Ruud van Nistelrooy remain at the club following his successful stint as interim manager, which concluded with United’s 3-0 victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford.
Under Van Nistelrooy’s guidance, United went unbeaten in four games, securing 10 points, before new head coach Ruben Amorim takes over on Monday.
“In four games, we’ve had 10 points, which I think is really good,” De Ligt noted. “It’s important, and we’ve scored a lot of goals while conceding very little, so it has been a successful short spell. From my experience, he has shown his value as an assistant and demonstrated his management skills. He understands the club and knows what’s expected of the players and the staff.”
De Ligt reflected on the positive atmosphere Van Nistelrooy brought to the squad, saying, “I believe he could stay, but ultimately that’s up to the manager.
It’s hard to pinpoint exact changes, but sometimes football is strange. With Erik [ten Hag], we played well in some matches but didn’t capitalize, like against West Ham away, where we created eight chances but didn’t score. Sometimes, the momentum just shifts in your favour. Ruud deserves credit, as does Erik, because winning boosts everyone’s confidence.”
In a heartfelt farewell message to fans, Van Nistelrooy expressed his gratitude for the support he received at Old Trafford, saying, “United fans have always held a special place in my heart, but my love for you all has only grown during this period. The support from the stands has been fantastic, and I’ll carry these memories for the rest of my life. I believe this club has everything it needs to return to the levels I experienced as a player.”
He also voiced his support for incoming head coach Ruben Amorim, encouraging fans to rally behind him. “From tomorrow, I’ll be supporting our new head coach, Ruben Amorim, and I urge everyone who loves this club to do the same.”
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