Ruud van Nistelrooy hails Manchester United players for reaction to Erik ten Hag sacking

Ruud van Nistelrooy says his Manchester United players “looked in the mirror” following Erik Ten Hag’s sacking this week, as he lauded their reaction to the former manager’s departure.

Van Nistelrooy has been placed in interim charge until new boss Ruben Amorim takes over later this month and followed the midweek victory over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday to cap a turbulent week at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag was sacked on Monday following last weekend’s defeat to West Ham, while Amorim’s arrival from Sporting was confirmed on Friday, with the Portuguese set to take charge during the upcoming international break.

“It’s been very difficult,” Van Nistelrooy said. “From Monday to today, six days and a rollercoaster of emotions.

“Obviously, very sad seeing Erik leave. Then the next day you have to start to focus on getting the lads ready for a performance against Leicester because there are 75,000 people going to show up here. We have an obligation and the players feel that. They have the obligation to do better.

“They looked in the mirror and their reaction on Wednesday and today showed that they thought about things as well themselves.”

Van Nistelrooy was speaking for the first time since Amorim’s appointment was formerly confirmed, having already stated his desire to continue working at the club.

The former United striker, who has managerial experience with PSV, was brought in as assistant to Ten Hag last summer.

However, Amorim is planning to bring a number of his own staff with him from Portugal and Van Nistelrooy suggested he would be open to taking a lesser role within the new set-up.

“I came here to help as an assistant, as a coach and in this bit as well as an interim for a short spell,” he explained. “In any capacity, I’m willing to help so in that sense I’m open for the future.

“We all will be backing [Amorim] and helping him to get Manchester United to where we all want it to be. That spirit is the most important thing to have. It’s not about individuals. It’s about the club.”