Why I’m glad to see my outdated mate Ruud van Nistelrooy coming to life within the highlight and the one choice he should get proper for the go to of Chelsea, writes MARTIN KEOWN
Just as my autobiography was released this week, complete with a certain picture of me leaping over Ruud van Nistelrooy on its back cover, there he was, jumping for joy in front of us all at Old Trafford as Manchester United’s interim manager! Truthfully, it was refreshing to see my old mate trying to spark some life into that famous stadium which, for too long, has been zapped of all its energy.
Previously, Van Nistelrooy had been very passive while working alongside Erik ten Hag. But not now that he has the spotlight shining on himself, until Ruben Amorim takes over.
Remarkably, Sunday’s visitors Chelsea have not won at Old Trafford since 2013 when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager, and as a proud former player Van Nistelrooy will be desperate to maintain that record.
Amorim is a back-three advocate and I thought it was telling that Van Nistelrooy started his temporary tenure using a back four. He didn’t set up with suiting the new manager in mind. He set them up to suit himself and his own ideas and it led to that 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester. His team managed five goals in one night after only scoring eight in the Premier League all season.
You could see the extra commitment from the group and the respect represented by his long embrace with Casemiro at the end. Even the biggest names need to feel the belief of their manager. Reinvigorated, the 32-year-old Brazilian scored twice, including a wonder goal, while also showing his passing range as he fired balls into wide men Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, going some way to showing why his critics have been harsh in branding him a poor signing.
Ruud van Nistelrooy came to life in the dugout at Old Trafford as his side put five past Leicester
However, Manchester United have only scored eight goals all season in the Premier League
A reinvigorated Casemiro scored twice – including a stunning effort from around 25 yards out
One signature of Van Nistelrooy’s style of play, which Chelsea will have noticed in their analysis of the win against Leicester, was the variation of movement from right back Diogo Dalot. Sometimes he would fly down the right flank to cover for Rashford when he moved inside from the wing. At other times, he was moving into midfield centrally himself, more advanced than the two holders in Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro.
Amorim will have noted that this shapeshifting gave United’s players some practice of playing with a back three at least! Joshua Zirkzee was dropping deep from the frontline, often towards the right-hand side to help develop play, with Bruno Fernandes also pushing up through the middle in possession. Out of possession, though, the 30-year-old Portuguese was often passed around when he charged out of the pack to press solo.
It was a liberating performance that saw United play with freedom, but make no mistake, Chelsea will be a much tougher test.
This is especially the case as Enzo Maresca will bring his A-team to Old Trafford after miscalculating their midweek Carabao Cup trip to Newcastle with a B-side that ended up losing at St James’ Park.
One decision Van Nistelrooy needs to nail is who starts in central defence, as Nicolas Jackson is fast becoming one of the Premier League’s most feared strikers. Nobody has made more sprints than Chelsea’s forward this season and he will happily eat up any space behind United’s backline, knowing full well that Cole Palmer can find him. Palmer’s vision is unparalleled. That pass for Jackson’s opener in last weekend’s 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle was on another level.
Nicolas Jackson (left) and Cole Palmer (right) are forming a fearsome partnership in attack
Enzo Maresca will bring his A-team to Old Trafford after miscalculating their midweek Carabao Cup trip to Newcastle
United fans are ready to embrace a new chapter – the responsibility falls on Van Nistelrooy to ensure the players maintain momentum ahead of Ruben Amorim’s arrival
Few players would have seen that ball was on, let alone possess the quality to execute it. Palmer plays as if there’s no time to lose, desperate to make sure everyone knows how exceptional he is. Manchester City’s academy coaches have every right to feel angry that their club is not benefiting from his X factor.
Chelsea have partnerships all over the pitch, from Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana in central defence to Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in midfield and Palmer and Jackson in attack.
Meanwhile, United’s fans are ready to embrace a new chapter. On Sunday, the responsibility will fall on Van Nistelrooy to make sure their players maintain momentum ahead of the huge change that is coming under Amorim.
