Man Utd 3 Leicester 0: Ruud van Nistelrooy signs off with a win as Bruno Fernandes marks 250th game with classy goal
WHAT A DAY for Bruno Fernandes and what a send-off for Ruud van Nistelroory.
The interim boss could be gone by the end of next week with Ruben Amorim on his way in with his own backroom staff.
Van Nistelrooy wants to stay in some capacity, the fans and players want him to stay too – but it will be down to Amorim.
Perhaps the Dutch goalscoring legend’s own ambitions to be boss at Old Trafford one day may tip the balance.
No new boss wants that looming over their shoulder.
Let’s be honest, it’s not like this is the most secure job in world football as it is.
The incoming head coach from Sporting Lisbon will be the sixth incumbent in the Manchester United hot seat since Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out back in 2013.
That’s apart from interim boss Ralf Rangnick and the other three who filled a gap; Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and now Van Nistelrooy.
Little wonder the office door just has the word ‘manager’ on at Carrington rather than their actual names in these cost-cutting times under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
I mean how much do those golden letters cost?
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Talking of Ratcliffe, it is the part-owner now running things at the club who was on the pitch before kick-off to present Fernandes with a framed shirt to mark this, his 250th appearance for the club.
One presumes, the club paid for it, not the player.
So the stage was set for the 30-year-old Red Devils captain to celebrate the occasion in style, and how he did just that.
He scored the opening goal, he forced the second although it was credited as an own goal off Victor Kristiansen.
Then he provided the assist to Alejandro Garnacho‘s third.
For Fernandes that is 83 goals and 72 assists since he made his own switch from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020.
Undoubtedly, he is the best signing in the post Sir Alex era.
To be fair that bar is not terribly high, but he has been an example to the rest from the day he walked into Old Trafford.
The man with the armband can often be the main target after the manager when things are going wrong here. They have been for some time.
But there is no doubt about his contribution to this club in difficult times.
His application and devotion to the badge on and off the pitch is huge.
Critics use his arm flapping histrionics as a stick to beat him with but it is because he cares so much.
He opened the scoring here against woeful Leicester in the 17th minute.
He received a thrown-in on the left from Noussair Mazraoui and then after a quick exchange of passes with Amad Diallo, curled a shot from the edge of the area into the far bottom corner.
Off to the corner flag in celebration, why is it always the corner flag?
The chants of ‘Bruno’ went up and his team-mates all flocked to him.
A great start, but this being the modern day Manchester United, the opposition will always have a chance to get back into it.
So it was in the 28th minute when Facundo Buonanotte put Wilfred Nididi clean through but Andre Onana was out to him and smothered his shot.
Then when Buonanotte himself got a sight on goal a fantastic tackle by Mazraoui took the ball away from him.
The Reds rattled, but not for long as number two followed in the 38th minute.
Mazraoui provided the cross from the left and there was Fernandes to get a flick with the top of his thigh and the ball went in off Victor Kristiansen.
The captain got the congratulations even if it officially went down to the Leicester player as an own goal.
Fernandes was a menace in front of goal because Rasmus Hojlund certainly was not.
Let’s say the reception was generous when he was finally hooked in the 75th minute but not quite as lacklustre as that which greeted his replacement Joshua Zirkzee.
After all the millions spent in the last decade is that what this famous club has ended up with as striking options?
So that’s three wins and a draw for Van Nistelrooy, who had his name chanted loudly at the end of the game.
In his programme notes he had talked about the emotions of managing the club for this short period.
He wrote: “I can honestly say that my love for you all has only grown during this period.
“From tomorrow, I will be getting behind our new head coach, Ruben Amorim, and I urge everyone who loves the club to do the same.”
Remind you of anything, Sir Alex 11 years ago perhaps and ten months later David Moyes was gone.
The revolving door continues to spin…next.