Every word Ruud van Nistelrooy said on Ruben Amorim, Man United team talk and future plans

Ruud van Nistelrooy conducted his first pre-match press conference as interim Manchester United head coach on Thursday afternoon.

The Dutchman was appointed interim head coach on Monday after Erik ten Hag was sacked by the club. Van Nistelrooy oversaw a morale-boosting 5-2 win in his first game in charge as United swept Leicester City aside in the Carabao Cup.

Ruben Amorim has agreed to take over as Ten Hag's permanent replacement so it is unclear how long Van Nistelrooy's spell in charge will last, though he did admit it would be a "short" stint at the helm.

Having faced journalists for the first time as United boss on Thursday, here's everything the legendary former striker had to say:

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Will you take charge on Sunday?

"I'm guessing that too, so yes. It's going to be a short job as an interim, that was communicated very clear and I was happy with that. I felt I was called upon to help the club forward in this situation. Obviously, it was difficult that Erik had to leave, I was very disappointed, obviously with very mixed feelings about that but you have to switch the mindset to win because 75,000 people are waiting and celebrating and millions are watching at home. That's what we tried to do, same for Sunday and then we'll see."

Have you spoken to Erik ten Hag?

"Yes, I've seen him Monday here and I’ve spoken to him yesterday before the game. Obviously, very disappointed and touched because he really cared for the club.

"I said also yesterday in the first conversation we had for me to come back to the club with him I really felt that he cared and loved the club and wanted to bring this club forward and that's why we connected, and that’s why he’s also hurt that he had to leave but also proud of his achievements here with the two cups and obviously the history that he’s leaving with that."

Why have things gone so wrong?

"No, I think in the end it's also clear in football it's the results and Erik also said. As you say, in pre-season we had new staff all very positive, working hard to bring the club forward and obviously there are things you can't explain sometimes. I also remember the Brighton goal we scored, Garna, via Josh in, then you concede the 2-1.

"There've been so many games where we could've got a better result than I’m talking Palace, I’m talking West Ham, I’m talking Fenerbahce, I’m talking Porto. But in the end, it's about results this game. That's our jobs."

Will you leave when Ruben Amorim comes in?

"Yes, and I decided to come back here for a very important reason that I'm here, I came as an assistant to help the club forward and I'm still motivated to do so in any capacity, 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."

Do you expect to stay under Ruben Amorim?

"We will see but it's a contract situation I'm in and my desire to help the club forward. I can speak to you about my side of the story and after that when a new situation is occurring and when a new manager is signing and conversations take place we have to see how things develop."

What about your role under the new coach?

"I want to help. I want to do everything I can in my abilities as many others do in this club, to fight for this club. The club's in a difficult situation and it’s not there where we all want it to be. But the challenge is there for the bigger, that's why I'm here.

"Everybody's looking at Man United and the situation it's in, but it’s us as people on the ground, on the floor here, to do the utmost, supported by our fans and, of course, it’s a process and something to work for and do everything for."

Have you spoken with Ruben Amorim?

"Is he already announced? So then, obviously I won't talk to somebody who's not announced, that's logical in my opinion. And again, what the future will bring, we’ll see."

It's your team over the next three games?

"Of course."

How well-equipped is the team for the rest of the season?

"I'm thinking about preparing the team for Leicester, which we did, was a difficult situation we were in, to get a good result against Leicester. Same today, here to build, evaluate the game, focus on Chelsea on Sunday and that’s the process I am in.

"With the short term, I am in this position and I'm only thinking one thing and that’s to do the best we can for every game coming up and that's a big one for the Chelsea game on Sunday."

Is this group of players capable of challenging at the very top?

"I think what's the most important task is they get the maximum out of these players, it's a great challenge to show and push ourselves, as staff and players, to that level. And over a Premier League season and also all the other games we're gonna play until the end of May, will give us a very good and clear picture of where the club is in this moment and what the process will be towards the next season and the seasons to come.

"It’s a big challenge and I think everybody is convinced with this group of players we can and have to perform better than we are at the moment. But obviously it’s very interesting to see over the course of 38-50 games that are still probably to play for where we can end up."

Did you ever think you'd be back as manager after the way your playing career at Old Trafford ended?

"Yeah, well no, at the time I wasn't thinking that to manage.

"I Ieft in 2006, oh my god, what a long time ago, to Real Madrid and to perform and to play and to get the most out of yourself as a player and obviously after that you think about coaching. But I have to say, it was special to come back to the club and city I liked and loved so much and still do, I enjoy it and I enjoy being around Manchester and working with the players and staff here. There are not many here when I played, a couple. More or less the same quantity of people that are still there from that time."

Is it different in the dugout to being on the pitch?

"It's the other side, being a football player or a manager or assistant, it's complete opposite sides. My team talk, I'm standing in front of the team, telling them about what Manchester United is about, what it is to play at Old Trafford, what songs are being sung by the fans and why. You try to transmit that lovely feeling of playing for this club.

"It’s a proud moment to do that and share that with players and what they were transmitting on the pitch and the way it interacted with the supporters towards me, it was an unbelievable support and it only strengthens me to do the utmost, especially short term for Chelsea on Sunday."

Did you speak to Sir Alex Ferguson?

"Yes, I spoke to him. He wished me luck. We spoke shortly about my situation, shortly about the team and most of all he wished me luck before the game. It’s always great to speak to him."

Is there a risk the club wasted £200m in the summer?

"It's something that is interesting to think about because in the end, in football, it happens so much, a team, a club is also in the process of signing players, so it's also in combination with the manager. It’s difficult to comment on that actually and what the process would be with the new manager and how important it is the new manager is approving the squad and he has the decision to come and not to come. When he sees the squad, so it’s hard for me to comment on that but that would be the reaction from my side."