‘Here to help’: Ruud van Nistelrooy keen to stay in Manchester United setup

Ruud van Nistelrooy is interested in remaining at Manchester United, whether as a member of Rúben Amorim's coaching team or under the leadership of whoever takes over for Erik ten Hag as the new long-term manager.

During his time as interim manager of United, Van Nistelrooy led the team to a 5-2 win over Leicester in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday. He took on this role after being elevated from his previous assistant position under Ten Hag.

Amorim is likely to be named as Ten Hag's replacement once the discussions about shortening the Sporting head coach's 30-day notice period are settled. Van Nistelrooy was questioned about his interest in being involved in the upcoming team arrangement.

"I am dedicated to supporting and contributing everything I can for the club, surrounded by many people who also want the best for it, and that commitment will always remain," said the 48-year-old from the Netherlands.

Reports from Portugal indicate that Amorim might not assume his role at United until the next international break due to disputes surrounding his notice period. As a result, Van Nistelrooy could oversee the team in three upcoming matches: against Chelsea in the Premier League, against PAOK in the Europa League, and once again in the league against Leicester, with the last match taking place next Sunday.

He is happy to contribute. "Absolutely – I joined the club as an assistant to lend a hand," Van Nistelrooy explained. "Now, in my current position, I’m here to assist for as long as necessary. In whatever role I take on in the future, my goal is to support the club in its efforts to develop and move forward – that's my purpose here."

United secured their victory with two goals from both Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, along with a goal from Alejandro Garnacho. For Leicester, Bilal El Khannouss and Conor Coady found the back of the net.

Regarding Casemiro, Van Nistelrooy expressed: “I was really happy for him, especially considering how hard he’s been training and the support he’s provided to the team and the club. He’s truly an inspiration. The fans’ response says it all—they understand his worth. Naturally, he has faced some tough times.”

"In the match against Liverpool, which ended with a disappointing 3-0 score at half-time, he faced a lot of backlash. It’s really unfair because he should not have been held responsible for that performance. That notion is completely incorrect. If you watch him during training and see the effort he puts into preparing for matches, alongside his impressive record of five Champions League titles, he serves as a great role model for all of us. My celebration was influenced by this as well."