MU fell to Nottingham at Old Trafford
Appointed as MU’s interim coach following Ten Hag’s dismissal while awaiting Ruben Amorim to take over, Van Nistelrooy thrilled MU fans with convincing victories against opponents. When Amorim arrived, Van Gol expressed his desire to remain part of MU’s coaching staff under Amorim. However, the Dutchman was left with no choice but to depart as he was not part of Amorim’s plans, despite his burning love and desire to serve MU.
On his bittersweet farewell, Van Nistelrooy urged MU’s stars to support Amorim, a gesture that underscored his professionalism, generosity, and deep love for the Red Devils.
Victories, then… consecutive defeats
Red Devils supporters seemed to “temporarily forget” Van Gol after Amorim’s first three games in charge, which resulted in two wins and one draw. It seemed as if Amorim was set to continue a “daydream” with MU. However, the last two Premier League matches have brought MU crashing back to reality.
While the loss to Arsenal could be explained due to the Gunners’ brilliance in set pieces and the Emirates’ intimidating atmosphere, the 3-2 defeat to Nottingham at Old Trafford left no room for excuses. Out of a possible 12 points in his first four Premier League games, Amorim has managed only 4—an underwhelming return for fans who had high hopes for the Red Devils.
Saturday’s match (December 7) marked a return to the “familiar disappointment” experienced during the latter months of Erik ten Hag’s tenure. With dropped points in nearly two-thirds of their games, United sit 13th in the Premier League table with a goal difference of +1 (19 goals scored, 18 conceded). This is MU’s lowest position after 15 league games since the 1986-87 season; when they finished 11th and failed to qualify for European competitions. Could this season see MU repeating history?
Amorim got the second bitter pill
For Amorim, the harsh realities of the Premier League might have been a shock. Before managing MU, he guided Sporting Lisbon to 11 consecutive league wins. Yet, in just four Premier League games, he has dropped points three times (two for Arsenal and Nottingham, and a with Ipswich Town). The fact here is coaching in the Premier League is a formidable challenge, and leading MU is even more so.
Van Nistelrooy’s Perfect Debut with Leicester City
Opposite to Amorim, Van Nistelrooy, after being “ignored” by MU, was trusted by Leicester City—a team he had defeated twice while serving as MU’s interim coach. Van Nistelrooy’s debut with Leicester City was spectacular, as he guided them to a 3-1 victory over West Ham at King Power Stadium, ending the Foxes’ streak of six consecutive draws and losses.
His dream debut with his new team, coupled with MU’s two consecutive defeats, has left Red Devils supporters longing for Van Gol.