Man Utd fans entitled to ask major question after first win under Ruud van Nistelrooy
MANCHESTER UNITED 5-2 LEICESTER: The Red Devils put in an electric performance under interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy as they scored five goals in their first game after Erik ten Hag's sacking
by David McDonnell · The MirrorManchester United fans – and Erik ten Hag in particular – are entitled to ask where electric performances like this have been all season.
Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, in charge following Ten Hag's sacking on Monday, promised a return to United's attacking heritage, with plenty of goals – and the players duly delivered.
After a season of unremitting tedium on the pitch and a lack of goals, this was a throwback to the United of old – cavalier, full throttle football, with a goal threat every time the team attacked.
It was the uncompromising style embodied during the glittering days of Sir Alex Ferguson – watching on at Old Trafford – in which Van Nistelrooy played his part as a prolific goalscorer.
With United set to appoint Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim, former striker Van Nistelrooy's stint in charge is likely to be short-lived and may come to an end after Sunday's visit of Chelsea.
But if Amorim – who was surely watching this game from Lisbon – wants to know about the United DNA and the attacking way in which the team are obliged to play, this was the perfect example.
Van Nistelrooy marked the 87th anniversary of an academy graduate being in every United match-day squad by continuing that proud record, which stretches back to 1937, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho in the starting line-up and a further six on the bench.
When he emerged from the tunnel ahead of kick-off, looking every inch the distinguished manager in a roll-neck and tailored coat, Van Nistelrooy turned to the Stretford End and punched both fists towards the fans, before repeating the gesture to those supporters in the South Stand.
Van Nistelrooy was greeted with cries of "Ruuuuud!", just as the fans did in his playing days for United, when he plundered 150 goals in five seasons between 2001 and 2006, underling his status as one of the Premier League's greatest finishers.
Old Trafford erupted in the 15th minute with a stunning 25-yard strike from Casemiro, which dipped under the bar, giving Leicester keeper Danny Ward no chance of stopping it. It was the perfect start for Van Nistelrooy, who indulged in another double fist-pump, a move he would repeat 13 minutes later, when United doubled their lead.
Casemiro was involved again, picking out Diogo Dalot with a fine lofted pass, the United right-back squaring the ball to the advancing Garnacho, who swept a first-time finish high into the net.
But United's scoring spree was interrupted in the 32nd minute with Leicester pulling a goal back, Bilal El Khannouss scoring with a low finish, off both posts, after a clumsy clearance from Altay Bayindir.
United restored their two-goal advantage three minutes later when a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, given for a foul by El Khannouss on Garnacho, deflected off James Justin and into the net.
But United were in the mood for more goals, with Casemiro claiming his second of the night moments later, sweeping the ball into the net after his initial header had come back off both posts.
United's lead was cut to two at the break, Conor Coady profiting from sloppy defending to roll the ball in and make it 4-2 after a breathless first-half.
Fernandes made it 5-2 a minute before the hour, taking advantage of a sloppy back-pass by Caleb Okoli to smash the ball inside the near post to seal a much-needed win as a new era starts after Ten Hag's departure.
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