New Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy ‘astonished’ by offers after Manchester United spell
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New Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy poses for a wefie with a fan outside the stadium before the match against Brentford.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Ruud van Nistelrooy said he was “astonished” by the number of offers he received as a result of his spell as Manchester United interim manager, as he plots Leicester City’s survival in the English Premier League.
The Dutchman had four games (three wins and a draw) in caretaker charge at Old Trafford – two of them against Leicester – following Erik ten Hag’s sacking at the end of October, but left the club when Ruben Amorim arrived in November.
Van Nistelrooy, speaking at his first press conference on Dec 2 since replacing the sacked Steve Cooper at the King Power Stadium, said offers had poured in.
“What happened after the games and the amount of interest, the options that all of a sudden were there for me and the options that came along, I was a little bit astonished,” he said ahead of the home clash against West Ham United on Dec 3, which kicked off after press time.
“It was four games and I managed a full season at PSV (Eindhoven), was able to win the (Dutch) Cup and the charity shield. I have been in coaching, in the (Under-)19s and the national team (with the Netherlands) and it never got this reaction from the football world.
“It provoked these reactions and I was only happy with that – and to get in conversations with different parties and be able to make a decision which felt really good for me and I am happy to be here.”
The Dutchman said he had enjoyed his “intense” spell in the Old Trafford hot seat and had helped “steady the ship”.
He added: “I really enjoyed it, being responsible, creating a connection with the team, with the supporters and turning the momentum for the club for a little bit.”
The Foxes are just a point above the relegation zone after 13 games, before the West Ham match. Caretaker boss Ben Dawson oversaw the weekend 4-1 loss at Brentford, the team’s third straight defeat.
Van Nistelrooy, a former striker with United and Real Madrid, also said he was proud to have been given the opportunity to manage the former Premier League champions, where “expectations are clear”.
“It is something we face, that challenge to maintain and play in the Premier League and that is the big target for everybody to achieve that,” he said.
“In two days, it’s difficult to make a lot of changes.
“But we have started to make changes in the style of play, training sessions, structure, little by little starting to build a foundation of a highly motivated team who can compete in this league.” AFP
