Eyebrows were raised when Manchester United made the somewhat surprising decision to stand by Erik ten Hag at the end of last season.
Indeed, the Dutchman guided the Red Devils to FA Cup glory over their archnemesis Manchester City—winning a second piece of domestic silverware in as many years after a League Cup triumph over Newcastle United in his first season in charge.
However, many pundits and Man United fans alike felt that wasn’t enough for Ten Hag to be given more time at Old Trafford, let alone being handed an extension to his contract until June 2026 by new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliff.
After their worst start to a season in Premier League history, sitting 14th and winning just four of their 14 games across all competitions, INEOS were left with no choice but to cut ties with Ten Hag toward the end of last month—reportedly costing them over £13 million.
It marked another dismal low point for the club in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. But hopes are high for Manchester United fans with the appointment of the highly-regarded Ruben Amorim from Sporting Lisbon as Ten Hag’s successor.
Amorim oversaw a shock 4-1 win over Manchester City in the Champions League in his final home game at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, and one of his first major tasks as Red Devils boss will be besting Pep Guardiola’s side again on December 15.
The Man City vs Man United odds will be heavily in the host’s favour ahead of the Etihad clash, but with interim gaffer Ruud van Nistelrooy steading the ship in the wake of Ten Hag’s departure and the potential of a new manager bounce under Amorim, you never know what could happen.
Amorim will probably take a lot of praise should he steer Man United back up the table, but Van Nistelrooy’s impact as a stop-gap at the Theatre of Dreams cannot be overlooked. The former Red Devils striker restored confidence in the dressing room and Amorin is coming with the side on a high.
The news that the Dutchman will not be staying on as part of Amorim’s team is disappointing to fans, but he has played a crucial role and has potentially helped change the trajectory of Man United’s entire season from just four games as interim boss.
Briefly stepping into the hot seat last month after joining Ten Hag’s backroom staff as assistant manager in the summer, Van Nistelrooy went unbeaten in his handful of games in charge—winning three and drawing one.
His first game was against Leicester City in the League Cup, which followed just days after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United at the London Stadium—ironically dubbed ‘El Sackico’ as Ten Hag and Julen Lopetegui’s jobs were on the line.
Van Nistelrooy’s positive impact was clear from the off. Two goals from Casemiro and strikes from Bruno Fernandez and Alejandro Garnacho helped the Red Devils to a 4-1 lead at the break, and Fernandez scored again in the second half as Man United booked their place in the quarter-finals.
His first Premier League game against Chelsea posed a tougher task. It was a tense affair, but when Fernandez broke the deadlock in the 70th minute it looked like Man United were on course for another win—only for Moises Caicedo to equalise four minutes later.
Amad Diallo then netted twice in a 2-0 win over PAOK Salonika in the Europa League, before another convincing victory over Leicester in the Premier League—with Fernandez and Garnacho both on the scoresheet again while an own goal from Victor Kristiansen added to Man United’s biggest Premier League home win of the campaign.
Van Nistelrooy has done the groundwork and got them firing on all cylinders once again, with Fernandez’s resurgence in form particularly notable in the football odds.
All Amorim has to do now is build the foundations—even if that is without the Dutchman by his side.
