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Ruud van Nistelrooy said he had consulted with Sir Alex Ferguson before his first game in charge of Manchester United and revealed Erik ten Hag left Old Trafford hurt to be sacked but proud of his achievements.
The Dutchman won his first match as interim manager, 5-2 against Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, and expects to remain the caretaker for Sunday’s match against Chelsea, even as United close in on Ruben Amorim.
Van Nistelrooy has not yet been in contact with the Sporting Lisbon manager but underlined that it is his “absolute goal” to stay at United.
But he talked to Ferguson, his manager during his five-year spell as a prolific striker for the club two decades ago.
He said: “I spoke to him. He wished me luck. We spoke shortly about my situation and shortly about the team. Most of all he wished me luck. It is always great to speak to him.”
Van Nistelrooy and Ten Hag did not know each other before the summer approach for the 48-year-old to join the coaching staff.
But Van Nistelrooy said he was persuaded by Ten Hag’s love of United and revealed his compatriot was devastated to lose his job.
“I saw him here on Monday and spoke to him before the game,” he said. “He was very disappointed and touched. He cared for the club, the first conversations we had I felt he cared and loved the club and wanted to bring the club forward. That is where we connected. It hurt he had to leave but he is also proud of his achievements here.”
Van Nistelrooy said he would pick what he called his team, rather than use Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation, but hopes he can stay at Old Trafford and play a part in the new regime.
Amorim is expected to join in the November international break, giving Van Nistelrooy three more games in charge before then, and is likely to bring much of his backroom staff with him from Portuguese league leaders Sporting.
But Van Nistelrooy is determined to play his part, too, adding: “I came as an assistant to help the club forward and I am still very motivated to do so in any capacity, as an assistant and now an interim, and after that I go back to my assistant contract that I have here for this season and next. I’m very motivated to stay here and help the club forward, that’s my absolute goal.
“I can speak about my side of the story and when a new manager is signing and conversations take place we have to see how things develop.”