"Benching your best player", "I knew you would do this Ruud!" - Manchester United fans surprised by Ruud van Nistelrooy's XI vs Leicester City
Manchester United fans have taken to social media to react with surprise to their starting lineup to face Leicester City in their Premier League clash. The two sides will face off today (November 10) at Old Trafford, where the Red Devils will look to clinch all three points.
This will be Ruud van Nistelrooy's final match as interim manager of the Red Devils, with new head coach Ruben Amorim taking over tomorrow. The Dutchman has opted for an attacking trio of Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo.
This is the first time Diallo has started consecutive games since earlier this season when Manchester United beat Fulham (August 16) and lost to Brighton & Hove Albion (August 24). He notably scored a brace in their 2-0 win over PAOK Thessaloniki in the Europa League on November 7, and Van Nistelrooy has rewarded him with another start.
In midfield, Bruno Fernandes will continue in his playmaker role, ahead of Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro. At the back line, Diogo Dalot, Mattijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Noussair Mazraoui all start, with Andre Onana between the sticks.
Manchester United fans reacted to the lineup with comments on social media platform X like these:
"I knew you would do this Ruud!!!" a fan exclaimed.
"Benching your best player because the some noisy plastic fans said so. Hopefully Amorim doesn't keep him on board," a fan slammed Van Nistelrooy for leaving Alejandro Garnacho on the bench.
"Rashford Hojlund Amad" another fan was pleased about the attack.
"Finally some balance in attack" a third agreed.
"I hope the new manager will be the one to put the final nail in Rashford's complacency." this fan questioned Rashford's inclusion.
"Rashford again? ETH played him till he got sacked," another admitted.
Ruud van Nistelrooy wants to be Manchester United's permanent manager one day
Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed that he wants to be Manchester United's permanent manager in the future. The coach took over the interim manager position after Erik ten Hag was sacked by the Old Trafford hierarchy.
However, they were not prepared to give him a chance to prove he could continue in the role more permanently. The club quickly moved for Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim, agreeing a deal, and announcing that Amorim would start in his new role as permanent manager on November 11.
When asked if he saw himself managing United one day, Van Nistelrooy said (via BBC):
"Yeah, of course. I thought this through well when I made the decision to come to United as an assistant manager or assistant coach... I had clear ambitions to manage. I made the decision to sign a two-year deal as an assistant and I'm still in that frame of mind to stay in that capacity."
The Dutch coach has led Manchester United to three games without a loss so far, and he could make it four if they beat or draw against Leicester City.