United v Leicester: Ruud's press conference

Friday 08 November 2024 13:48

For the final time, Ruud van Nistelrooy has held a pre-match press conference as Manchester United's interim head coach.

The club legend sat down with journalists inside the Jimmy Murphy Centre at Carrington, to preview Sunday's Premier League fixture against Leicester City.

You can read every word here...

We’ve seen images today of Luke Shaw returning to training. With Leny Yoro back, Mason Mount, it seems the injuries are easing at just the right time with Ruben coming in
“Yeah and also for me. I have to say yesterday we had a lot of benefit from Christian playing 30 minutes, obviously Ugarte and Mason making his first minutes again. That benefitted us as well. So I’m glad that they’re back and also, for a little bit longer future, good that Luke and Leny are on the pitch.”

We asked you last night about Amad. What’s the assessment and Kobbie Mainoo, how he’s doing, how’s his progress?
“Yes, Amad was assessed, still working on him to get him ready for Sunday. Hopefully it will work. Kobbie is also progressing in his injury, he’s making the right steps, not yet with the team, though. That needs a bit more time.”

Part one: Press conference v Leicester Video

Part one: Press conference v Leicester

Press conference part one | You aren’t ready for Sunday’s game until you’ve seen Ruud’s final pre-match briefing…

Ruud obviously this is your final match in interim charge, it’ll be emotional on Sunday I’m sure, but for you is it also a second farewell from Man United? Do you know what your future holds?
“First of all, it was a special period, it is still. I called it an important period because I think it was important to get through the four games as good as we could. I think we’ve done very well so far, the players reacted very well in the games. Obviously the focus is now to build on that and show that on Sunday with a big game ahead and a massive three points that are there to win. So, yeah, I don’t know if it will be very emotional. I take it very pragmatic as well, although I’m very proud to be able to fulfil this. We’ll see how that will feel on Sunday and other than that, there’s not much more news than yesterday evening where I think Ruben and I are both focusing on our teams and our games. He’s focusing on Braga with his team and I’m focusing on Leicester with my team. We’ll see if things come together in the future.”

Ruud it seems you’ve enjoyed this role, would you one day like to think of yourself as a permanent manager of Man United?
“Yeah of course I thought this through well when I made the decision to come to United as an assistant coach. I thought that through. I knew that coming to Man Utd was for me a special occasion where I felt I want to be part of this journey with the club, in an assistant role. I have 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 be fair, to stay in that capacity.”
This whole experience of being the boss, how do you rate it? Was it stressful, have you enjoyed it?
“I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed it. It gave a lot of energy. I think the reaction of the players was outstanding. I think also as an assistant, you are quite close to players. So the past three months I spent a lot of time with the players and got to know them very well, as human beings but also as footballers, where they are in their development and how I can help. And I think that relationship, that is helping now that we are together and we want to achieve something together. That bond is there. That’s what I feel, very supported. So that gives a lot of energy and the support of the fans obviously, that was amazing. That gives also lots of confidence and energy, so, so far so good.”
 
Any advice for Ruben Amorim?
“That’s a good question actually. It’s good to wrap it up after Sunday and of course I’ve been in for the three months in the season and this short spell. From there on, I think it’d be very good to wrap it all up and have that conversation. It’s a good question. I’m going to start thinking about it.”

Ruud: It's great to share these moments

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Catch up on how van Nistelrooy assessed our Europa League success against the Greek champions.

If you win on Sunday, you’ll have the highest win percentage of any Man United manager in history. You’ll go past Michael Carrick. That’s not the question, by the way… what sort of state is the dressing room at the moment? Do you see optimism for the fans?
“I think if you look at… it’s a results game in the end. I think the last 3 results were okay. We’re through in the Carabao Cup, we’re in the quarter-final there. It was a good point against Chelsea where we felt we deserved more, and also an important win in the Europa League to help us get settled higher in that table to get us through the next round in January hopefully. So, I think that momentum is changing a little bit, but of course Sunday is also a competition where we need to do better than we’re doing. So, as in the Carabao, where we needed to go to the next round and do good business in the Europa League with a win, that’s Sunday. That game is very important in that sentiment I think.”

Ruud, what has the last eight or nine days taught you as a coach, in your relatively fresh managerial career?
“Hmm. I didn’t really think about this. I think I’m so focused on getting the best out of the players and with the staff members, and all together we’re working on getting United back on track in the short term, that I’ve not really reflected on that, to be fair. Of course, I learn a lot in the time that I’m here, from other coaches and from players, with the experience there is, and with the opinions they have. So I think overall the knowledge about training sessions, managing individuals and teams, I think overall now I think about it, is something that really benefitted me as a coach.”

Van Nistelrooy: Amad is a great example

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Ruud says the two-goal hero has been incredible in training as he hopes his injury isn't serious.

Ruud you did well at PSV and left for other reasons, and obviously the 3 games here so far, we have seen a lift. It must be difficult then to be an assistant and it not be all your ideas…
“No, I think the appetite to build further within this club is stronger than the other bit. For this moment, and as I said, I made a deliberate decision to step in this role for two seasons. And take it from there, and these four games haven’t changed that sentiment. That’s why I said from the beginning that’s what my intentions were, also after my interim job.”
 
Ruud when you first joined the club, there were Sheringham, Yorke, Cole, Solskjaer. I know Rasmus and Josh were seen as potential., But do you accept that this club does need a proven goalscorer?
“I agree that when you want to be a successful side in the PL and in Europe, and that’s what the build is all about, you’re going to need a certain amount of goals. That is clear. That is facts in football. And that’s why the best teams in the world have those players. At the moment we have players that get a certain amount of goals or assists but they are obviously in an age where they still have to be developed, and there’s the potential that they will be, the belief is there that they can. And that’s, at this moment, where we are.”

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It's only been two weeks, three games, but do you think you’ll be handing over a group of players higher on confidence and better than what you inherited?
“I think that’s the results in itself [that] will make that happen. It’s easier to manage a team that has won two of the last three and had a decent point at home against a good side. The connection with the fans is there and this short[-term], good feeling that we can turn things round. That is what is happening at this moment. Of course, football being football, and especially in top-flight football, results are necessary. And the Sunday game is a big one.”

I know it’s not all about you but how proud would you be to hand over with an unbeaten record?
“Yeah, especially for the club. It was very important after I took over to get, I call it stabilise the ship, with results. And all of a sudden we’re three games further in that. It passes so quickly. And the last one, that’s the one, yeah, where it would mean a lot.”

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