RUUD AWAKENING
Back in early November, Manchester United had sacked Erik ten Hag but were waiting for his permanent replacement, Ruben Amorim, to fly in from Portugal. In stepped Ruud van Nistelrooy, a club legend with a promising managerial pedigree, to deliver some interim magic. It worked surprisingly well: while Amorim was clearing his desk at Sporting, Van Nistelrooy went unbeaten in four home games across three competitions. In a further twist, Ruud’s reward for bringing a few feelgood vibes to the husk of Old Trafford was a one-way ticket through Carrington’s overcrowded door marked Do One.
