Manchester

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, PA Media

Ruud van Nistelrooy was his usual chilled-out self when he spoke to the media on Thursday.

He may be an interim boss but Van Nistelrooy is vastly experienced when it comes to press conference.

Manchester United's new communications chief Toby Craig sat in at the back of the room to hear Van Nistelrooy's assessment of the past few days.

In one sense, Craig had nothing to worry about.

Van Nistelrooy said he felt sad for what had happened to Erik ten Hag but that he understands what happens when managers do not get results. He did not say anything that would give away when Ruben Amorim will be cleared to take over and confirmed his focus was on Sunday's game against Chelsea.

But Van Nistelrooy also mentioned his contract, twice, and the fact it has just over 18 months to run. Very wise.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Chelsea (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Van Nistelrooy will be taking charge of the side at Old Trafford this weekend: "I said that it was going to be a short job as an interim. That was communicated very clearly and I was happy with that. I felt that I was called upon to help the club forward in this situation."

• On what his Manchester United future looks like: "I came here to help the club forward and I'm still very motivated to do so in any capacity. After being an interim manager, I will go back to my assistant contract that I have here for this season and next."

• The former striker said his "absolute goal" is to remain at the club under the next permanent manager.

• It was "difficult" and "disappointing" for him to see Erik ten Hag leave the club but he has "switched the mindset" to focus on winning games because "there are 75,000 people waiting [in the ground] and millions watching at home".

• He saw Ten Hag on Monday and spoke to him on Wednesday before facing Leicester City in the Carabao Cup. He added: "I really felt that he cared and loved the club. He wanted to bring this club forward. That is why we connected." He also spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson who "wished him luck" before the cup game.

• On the tight turnaround from the midweek fixture: "I'm just thinking about preparing the team for each game. That's the process that I'm in. I'm in this position for the short-term, so I'm only really thinking about one thing: doing the best that we can for every game coming up. There is a big one against Chelsea now."

• Van Nistelrooy said it is "difficult" to comment on the club committing to Ten Hag in the summer, going on to spend around £200m on players and then sacking the manager two months into the season. He said it is "interesting to think about" but stated that "it happens so much in football now".

• He added: "I don't know what the process will be and how important it is that the new manager approves of the squad. He has a decision to come or not to come when he sees the squad. It is hard for me to comment but that would be the reaction from my side."

• On whether the current squad is good enough to be pushing at the top of the Premier League: "The task is to get the maximum out of these players. This season will give us a very good and clear picture of where the club is. Everybody is convinced that, with this set of players, we can and we have to do better than we are doing at the moment."

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Only Manchester City (179) and Tottenham (156) have had more shots than Bournemouth in the Premier League this season (140), with the Cherries’ average of 15.6 shots-per-game their highest in a single top-flight campaign.

But the weekend fixture may be tough for the shot-happy Cherries. Bournemouth have won none of their 20 league games against City (D2 L18). It’s the most one side has faced another without ever winning in English Football League history.

Former Premier League striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink told the BBC's Planet Premier League podcast that it is a good time for a manager to take charge of Manchester United.

"That job is an absolutely magnificent job," said the former Leeds and Chelsea forward. "I think if people at the top are going to give the next manager whatever they need to give him, I think now is the best time to take the job because you can put your own identity in for years to come.

"Everybody knows that United are not going to win the league this year or maybe next year. Yes, they need to be in Europe, but maybe not even Champions League this year.

"You can work in peace really, because the expectation is going to be a lot less. So you will get a period where you can mould your team and mould the identity."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

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Manuel Ugarte has certainly not had the start to his Manchester United career that he would have dreamed of.

The Uruguayan has struggled to cement his place the team, starting just five matches since his arrival and only playing two minutes in the club's past three Premier League matches.

And now, the coach who brought him to Old Trafford is gone.

However, it is unlikely that you will find someone at the club who is more excited about the prospect of working with Ruben Amorim than Ugarte.

Amorim and Sporting showed huge faith in Ugarte when they paid a club-record fee to bring him to Lisbon in 2021. At the time, he had played just 20 matches in European football for fellow Portuguese side Famalicao.

Ugarte played for Amorim for two seasons, initially as an understudy to Joao Palhinha. It was when Palhinha departed for Fulham in 2022 that Ugarte started to attract the attention of Europe's elite.

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Ugarte was one of the most dominant midfielders in Portugal in 2022-23, making monstrous defensive contributions for Amorim's side. His impressive numbers translated to European football nicely, making more tackles than any player in the entire Champions League campaign - despite Sporting getting knocked out in the group stage.

Ugarte is at his best when he is allowed to cover a lot of ground in the midfield and throw himself into tackles and duels. The 23 year-old's aggressive style does come with risks, but the protection that Amorim's three at the back system offers means that there is plenty of support behind him to cover any mistakes that he may make.

If history is anything to go by, then the fans will be wary. After enjoying success together at Ajax, many thought that Erik ten Hag would help kick start Donny van de Beek's Manchester United career. Two seasons, 12 appearances and a transfer to Girona later - that was not the case.

If Amorim sticks to his preferred tactics in the Premier League, the hope is that Ugarte can return to the role he played so well at Sporting, forget about his underwhelming start and become a fan favourite for the Red Devils.

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Manchester United sit 14th in the Premier League, so for a club as big as them, you have to say sacking Erik ten Hag came too late.

Before the October international break would have been better timing and Thomas Tuchel, who was a target of the club in the summer, might have been available at that point too. But he has now been lost to England.

The club have made a number of errors in transfers and extending his contract, but Ten Hag has gone and they now need to spend time finding the right appointment. They have to be patient and find someone for the long term with the philosophy and values that people at the club want.

They have not yet been able to find a manager that can bring them success since Sir Alex Ferguson. Ruud van Nistelrooy is the interim manager and he knows the club so maybe he can steady the ship a little bit.

I actually like Graham Potter, but it is about whether he has the character to manage such a big club. We saw what happened at Chelsea but he has worked previously with Dan Ashworth at Brighton.

They had a really good relationship and Brighton were really good in that period on a small budget.

If they do not succeed in getting Ruben Amorim from Sporting Lisbon, then I think Potter would be a good appointment for them.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones says the club's followers may have to "swallow our pride a little bit" as they rebuild on the pitch.

United are looking to secure the services of Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim after sacking Erik ten Hag as manager.

On the latest episode of Planet Premier League, Jones said: "We've lost so much identity over the years and it's been a process of slowly but surely we're just getting further away from where we need to be.

"I look at the people in and around the training ground on a day to day and those people who are no longer at the club… people will say 'what does that have to do with on the pitch?' Well that has everything to do with what goes on the pitch there. They're the bread and butter of the football club. They know the football club inside and out. They know how it works, they know how it's run.

“I think you've got to go back to basics. We all want fast attacking, flowing football, loads of chances created, loads of excitement in the stadium, but unfortunately, I think we're going to have to strip it all the way, right the way back and say we're going to be really solid, we're going to be really compact and really connected and hard to play against and hard to beat and be horrible to play against.

“I think we almost have to swallow our pride a little bit here. I know the way we want to play and the way that United fans expect us to play, but maybe we're going to have to play a certain way to build the confidence back up and bring confidence back into the team.”

Listen to Planet Premier League on BBC Sounds

Manchester City and manager Pep Guardiola will know only too well sympathy from elsewhere will be non-existent when he outlines the scale of their current injury problems.

Guardiola's message that "I think we are in trouble" will be brushed aside by those who look on in envy at the size and quality of the squad he has at his disposal.

There is no question, however, that his resources are being put to the test after injuries to Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Savinho before and during Wednesday's Carabao Cup defeat at Tottenham.

City are already without Rodri - arguably their most important player - for the season, along with Kevin de Bruyne.

The reality is that if any manager or team can cope with such handicaps, it is Manchester City.

It does add an extra layer of intrigue for Saturday's trip to Bournemouth, who showed how dangerous they can be when they beat Arsenal 2-0 recently.

Guardiola still has plenty of weapons in his armoury and City still lead the Premier League, but it could just be that their current injury difficulties play even more into the narrative that there might be a greater sense of flux surrounding the title race this season than many expected.

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Former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about Manchester United's Carabao Cup win over Leicester City and their hopes to bring in Sporting coach Ruben Amorim.

"There's nearly always a reaction when a manager is unfortunately dismissed from his post and we saw that last night from Manchester United," said Bosnich.

"I still think they would have won that game and that's not disrespectful to Leicester but they have shown in recent weeks, especially with their chance creation, that they were getting better in terms of that.

"It's a little bit too little too late for Erik ten Hag unfortunately but a really good reaction and I'm really, really happy for Ruud van Nistelrooy as well.

"It's great that they are in the quarter-finals and if and when the new manager does arrive it's a competition that they should be going all out to win and I'm sure they will."

On what Amorim would bring to United if appointed, Bosnich said: "Anyone who has followed him closely would have seen the way his teams have played over the last three or four seasons. He has won two titles in Portugal and there will be people saying 'that's Portugal and this is the Premier League' but you can only beat who is in front of you.

"I think it was two seasons ago in the Europa League when his team went to Arsenal and ended up winning on penalties but played some really good, fluid football.

"A lot of people have mentioned the system that he likes to play but it's a very adaptable system and a very adaptable style.

"He needs to instil that steel that everyone has become accustomed to for so long at Manchester United, make them a team that people do not like playing against and that has not been the case consistently enough.

"It's been quite some time now where you can put your hand on your heart and say they are challenging for the Premier League title or seriously challenging for the Champions League.

"Other teams have caught up with them and overtaken them. It is high time after all these managers that have happened over the last 10 years that someone gets to grips with it and changes things."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport asked Manchester United fans for one topic at the club that is not currently being talked about - among the suggestions was whether "player power" was an issue, amid the turnover of managers in recent years at Old Trafford.

We asked BBC Sport chief football news reporter Simon Stone for his thoughts:

There has been talk of "player power" at United, but I am not sure that goes to the heart of the problem.

I have not had a sense of United's squad turning against Erik ten Hag, it was more a belief they did not really understand what he was trying to achieve.

The reality is at any club, it is easier to get rid of the manager than a squad-load of players, especially if many of those players have been signed by said manager.

The other aspect at United is a creeping realisation that some of the players are not as good as their reputations suggest they are.

Clearly to reach the standard they have, they must have exceptional ability.

However, many also have significant flaws which is why the club has found consistency, over a considerable period of time, elusive.

Recruitment is always key. That has been the major issue, not the players ganging up on the manager.

Image source, Times/Mirror

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's League Cup game between Manchester United and Leicester.

Here are some of your comments:

United fans

Edward: Great game! I thought the sacking of Erik ten Hag would affect the team and they'd play miserably again. Van Nistelrooy‘s style was great, even if it is for a short burst. There's lots of confidence added back to the squad and fans!

Spencer: You could have predicted this result after the departure of Erik. As a United fan we have witnessed this happen so many times after a manager's sacking. I question how this team can turn it on when they feel like it. Of course it was an enjoyable performance, but the cracks were still present. Let’s not get carried away, Amorim has a big job on his hands.

Rowan: Great performance all round, with Casemiro and Bruno showing how good they truly are with the right guidance and energy from the sidelines, albeit against Leicester's 'B-team'. The passing and flair we displayed is something that was sorely missed throughout Ten Hag's campaign. Hope Van Nistelrooy or Amorim recognise we play best when we play faster on the turn.

Toby: Ruud has done a good job to start with. For me, Casemiro was outstanding, a fantastic performance from him. It is a shame that Ruud is not in charge for the whole season.

Leicester fans

Eddie: A strange team selection after the manager said he wants a cup run! No continuity. I understand the squad rotation system, but come on nobody seems to know what formation we are playing. Defence is non-existent at times, midfield is weak and there's no consistent goal threat. This has to change and quickly!!

Jaian: It was clear from the line-up that Steve had an eye on the six pointer this weekend against Ipswich. However, defensively Leicester have been poor again. It seems to be a reoccurring and worrying trend, which needs to be resolved before they end up in a relegation battle. On a positive note, It was great to see Will Alves come off the bench!

Paul: Unfortunately the inexperience of the City team showed through again. United were motivated to impress their new manager, but City while trying hard were easily outclassed. It's going to be a long, tough season. I just hope there are funds to bring more experience into the team in January.

Trev: Cooper is not the man for Leicester. His record shows his teams struggle to survive relegation. His results and performances say the same. Leicester need a manager who wants to win, not just survive.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Wednesday's EFL Cup match between Tottenham and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Tottenham fans

Doug: Great result, I’m chuffed for Werner getting a goal. He had a few other chances and he did better with them so I hope he continues to grow. Hopefully Van de Ven’s injury isn’t a serious one. And when Romero went off we had none of our main centre-backs on and still played well and got the result. Need to continue building as it's a tough game on Sunday at Villa.

Stephen: I thought we played well and had several chances to put the game to bed in the second half. We defended very well and Bentancur and Bissouma were very good together. We must remember this was not Manchester City’s first team but it was ours.

William: Today was like a Spurs win against Manchester City of old - defensively solid and dangerous on the counter attack. I love watching Ange’s fearless style of play, but today showed that sometimes taking a backward step can work and that against teams like City sometimes you have to adapt your style of play based upon the quality of the opposition.

Man City fans

Toqir: They lacked the killer instinct. Pep put on a third XI, there’s no doubt about that. They had a good run around but could have stamped their authority if they’d concluded their chances. It’s a blow to me as a fan. But Pep made his views clear regarding the congestion of matches and fielding an inexperienced team.

John: Despite falling to defeat, it was so encouraging to see so much of the City youth team fit into the Pep way of playing. City's future is looking good, very good.

Jim: I was at the match and worried about the ease Spurs scored the first goal. However we had a good second half and the youngsters did well.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman says Tottenham finished the game off against Manchester City in the opening 30 minutes but Pep Guardiola did not look too disappointed that his side failed to reach the quarter-finals.

"Tottenham's application in the first 30 minutes was where the game was won and lost," said Osman on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "City were slow out of the blocks and looked lethargic. I don't think I've seen them give so many passes away at that stage before. They eventually got up to speed for the last hour, and were the team we all know, but Spurs had already given themselves a platform by that point and they inevitably won.

"This game was more important for Tottenham than City and that showed as Guardiola was trying to rest players because they compete in so many competitions each season. But he still doesn't like giving anything up because he likes silverware every season!

"Even when City were chasing the game in the final minutes, Guardiola didn't bring Erling Haaland on and he trusted his young players. I am sure he will be pleased with the level they performed to.

"Spurs just won more battles throughout the game. On another night, Timo Werner could have had three or four goals had he taken his chances."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Ruben Amorim has already discussed his transfer plans with the Manchester United hierarchy and does not see winger Antony, midfielders Casemiro and Christian Eriksen or defender Victor Lindelof as part of his plans. (Team Talk), external

United's bid to secure the services of Amorim has hit a snag after Sporting demanded £4m for his staff on top of the £8.3m release fee for the manager. (Times - subscription required), external

Amorim accepts he may be forced to wait until the international break next month to join United. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Erik ten Hag considered signing former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck, now 33, from Brighton during his tenure as the Red Devils' manager. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Manchester City have rejected approaches from several clubs to take 18-year-old attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri on loan with the Argentine expected to link up with Pep Guardiola's side from River Plate at the start of 2025. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column