Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has insisted that he is calm about his future at the club and is hopeful that no news is good news, amidst his desire to stay once Ruben Amotim arrives.
Amorim is set to officially take charge of United on Monday, the day after the team’s Premier clash against Leicester City at Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy will once again be in the dugout for that match, in what will mark an end to his two-week stint as caretaker boss. If he wins, it will be a third victory in four matches since he temporarily took over the reins, following Erik ten Hag’s sacking at the end of last month.
The former Red has made no secret of his desire to remain at the club and become part of Amorim’s backroom staff.
He also retains the backing of the players, who are believed to be keen on him staying on board as assistant coach.
It’s understood that Van Nistelrooy and Amorim are set to speak on Monday over a number of issues including a handover of authority and of course, his own future.
According to Van Nistelrooy, having heard nothing to suggest he will be axed, he is taking that as a positive sign.
The 48-year-old told reporters in the embargoed section of his press conference, “Yeah, let’s wait and see how that [the meeting] goes.”
“I am calm, to be fair. I am trusting the process. I believe the outcome will be good because I believe that as long as I’m here, there is no news. I am here at Manchester United, so that is my focus. I am calm in that sense and whenever the communication takes place, I will see.”
“Obviously we know what the time frames are so I am aware of that but for me the game with Leicester is the only thing that is on my mind to be fair.”
On whether he’ll report to work on Monday, Van Nistelrooy responded, “As it is, definitely.”
Van Nistelrooy dismissed suggestions that the daunting challenge of managing a club of the sheer size and stature of United could be too big of a job for a young coach such as Amorim, who does not boast the CV of some of his predecessors like Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal.
“It’s about the talent of a person that for me is the most important thing/”
“Big name, small name…call it anything you want. In the end, it’s the person, and the talent and the qualities of that person will make sure how things will go. So that’s why it’s not so important about the big name in this sense.”
Van Nistelrooy however warned Amorim about the noise and media attention United are subjected to on a daily basis.
He remarked, “For me, when we landed in Bangkok on a pre-season tour in 2001 and I saw 100,000 people at the airport, that’s when I thought ‘ooh!’ That’s what I thought – then you realise what United is on a worldwide scale, and in Real Madrid it’s similar, wherever you go, the attention.”
“In the end you learn to bring it down to focusing on your job and performing as a player or coach and dealing with those circumstances.”
“That’s a big responsibility – we are all aware of it, but it’s also a challenge. When you go to manage or play for the biggest clubs the demand and spotlight are all part of it. I have to say in my years as a player in Real Madrid I also experienced microscopic views and intensity as well, 20 pages in all the papers every day, radio stations, social media.”
“In the world game really, United is up there too. But that’s also the challenge – to play and manage this club is a huge responsibility and I see that as a challenge whoever manages here.”
United vs. Leicester kicks off at 14:00 BST.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
