When Manchester United defeated Leicester City 5-2 in the Carabao Cup, supporters celebrated interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team’s successful start.
With a decisive victory over Leicester, the Red Devils advanced to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals two days after Erik ten Hag was fired as United’s manager and Van Nistelrooy was named as his replacement. At Old Trafford on Wednesday night, the fans received the scintillating football that the United legend had promised. Many supporters celebrated Ten Hag’s dismissal and Van Nistelrooy’s successful first game as manager on social media following the win.
The atmosphere at Old Trafford will have improved as a result of this stunning victory over the Foxes, even as United attempts to sign Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim as Ten Hag’s successor. Ten Hag’s dismissal, however, is unlikely to address all of the club’s issues, and a loss this weekend might bring them back to reality. Additionally, they are sluggishly occupying 14th place in the standings.
In his first game as Manchester United’s temporary manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy played up to his reputation for scoring goals at Old Trafford.
United kicked off the post-Erik ten Hag era with a bang, the big guns firing and the shackles free.
Pre-match, the mood was established. Perhaps aiming to follow in the footsteps of another former striker who became an interim, Van Nistelrooy pledged United would “get the crowd going” and did his best to assist from the sidelines, energizing the stadium when he emerged from the tunnel.
United easily defeated Leicester to advance to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals, scoring five goals, a feat they only accomplished once under Ten Hag, just like in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first game as manager. It felt as though a burden had been removed. At least for the time being.
During the Ten Hag era, goals had frequently been difficult to come by. A statistic that showed United’s startling goal differential under the Dutchman went viral when he was fired on Monday. Liverpool had +85, Manchester City had +134, and United was far behind at +11.
If it weren’t for Casemiro’s spectacular long-range goal, United might have reverted to their careless ways from the previous several months. After a somber beginning to the proceedings, it was the kick in the ass that they all needed to wake up and come alive.
