It was a night of deja vu for Manchester United as Ruud van Nistelrooy emulated Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during a thumping EFL Cup victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford.
Nearly six years on from that flying start to the Solskjaer era – the Red Devils battered Cardiff City 5-1 in their first outing on the Norwegian’s watch – Manchester United ran riot in a rolling-back-the-years sort of display.
This time, it was Leicester City who proved the unwitting victims of a team taking out their frustrations in a flurry of activity and rare productivity. Casemiro, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes all scored in a thumping 5-2 Man United triumph.
The comparisons go deeper than the eventual five-goal haul, meanwhile.
There was a deflected long ranger from a midfielder; Ander Herrera vs Cardiff in 2018 and Bruno Fernandes vs Leicester in 2024.
A fine team goal; we see Anthony Martial and raise you Alejandro Garnacho. A Marcus Rashford display full of promise, purpose and pulsating threat to put recent criticism in the rearview mirror.
And, to cap it all and to warm the cockles, a legendary Manchester United striker beaming with delight on the touchline.
Ruud van Nistelrooy revels in Manchester United’s Leicester City thrashing
While Solskjaer ended up enjoying three years in the dugout – an era which continues to look more and more impressive with the gift of hindsight – the Ruud van Nistelrooy era looks destined to be short if potentially sweet.
Reportedly, Van Nistelrooy could make way once Ruben Amorim arrives at Man United. So, understandably, the Dutchman is keen to enjoy what is likely to be a brief spell in the Red Devils dugout for as long as he can.
“OK, well I drew with Ole, so I will text him about this,” Van Nistelrooy laughs when informed that he had emulated his former United team-mate by masterminding a five-goal win in his first game in charge.
“Maybe he thought I could not get beside him. But, thanks to the players, it happened!
“In the days leading up to this, it was with mixed feelings,” Van Nistelrooy adds, a dream evening only coming about due to the departure of compatriot Erik ten Hag. “Of course, I was sad to see Erik go. He was the one that got me here.
“It was sad to see him leave but he’s leaving the club with two trophies and can have his head held high. Of course, matchday comes and 75,000 fans are here and they support the team. They supported me in an unbelievable way.”
Van Nistelrooy left emotional by fabulous Man United fans
A penny for Ten Hag’s thoughts, as United stormed into a 4-0 lead inside 40 minutes.
Just days after the Red Devils squandered chance after chance in that 2-1 reverse at West Ham, Casemiro whacked a 30-yarder into the top corner before tapping in a second after his initial header had rebounded off both posts.
Bruno Fernandes also saw an audacious free-kick deflected into the centre of Leicester’s net.
If Lady Luck had taken issue with Ten Hag, then Van Nistelrooy certainly managed to woo her over to Man United’s way of thinking.
“As coaching staff, we prepared the players. And I have to say they were fantastic today,” Van Nistelrooy adds. “Credit to the team, they pulled off a great performance today after difficult moments.
On the day it got announced [that I would be taking interim charge], it was difficult for them and every one of us. Of course, when you have the manager going [it is tough] for us, as staff, as well. So, to react and play like this, it was a great achievement of the players.
“We promised to fight for the 75,000 fans and the millions at home watching and supporting United. For them, we wanted to show up, show this club is building and continuing to fight and never stop. That’s what it is about.”
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