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Ruud van Nistelrooy says Man United’s medical team is fighting to get Amad fit for of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Leicester City.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the game, the interim boss said he is “hopeful” that the player will make it.
“Amad was assessed, still working on him to get him ready for Sunday, so hopefully it will work and Kobbie is also progressing with his injury, he’s making the right steps. He isn’t yet with the team, though. He needs more time,” Van Nistelrooy said.
On other injuries, he added:
“Yesterday we had a lot of benefit from Christian playing 30 mins with Ugarte and Mason making his first minutes again, so glad they are back and for a little bit of a longer future that Luke and Leny are on the pitch.”
The Dutchman was asked if he will feel emotional managing the team for the last time in his interim role.
“I don’t know if it will be emotional, I’m pragmatic as well, although proud to fulfil this,” he said. “We’ll see how I feel on Sunday and other than that, there’s not much news. Ruben and I are focussing on our teams and on our games.”
Asked whether he has the appetite to be a manager again, he replied:
“I think the appetite to build further within this club is stronger than the other bit [management]. For this moment, as I said, I made a deliberate decision to step in this role for two seasons and take it from there. These four games haven’t changed that sentiment. That’s why I said from the beginning that’s what my intentions were after my interim job.”
“I thought this through well when I came here as assistant manager. I knew coming to Manchester United was a special occasion and I felt I wanted to be part of this journey in the assistant role. I have clear ambitions to manage, I signed a two-year deal as an assistant, and I’m still in the same frame of mind.”
The next question was as to what advice he would offer incoming manager Ruben Amorim.
“It’s a good question actually,” he responded. “I’ve been in for three months and this short spell and from there on it would be good to wrap it all up and have that conversation. It’s a good question so I will start to think about it.”
In regard to how he feels his stint as boss has gone so far, Van Nistelrooy replied:
“I think if you look at, it’s a results game in the end and the last three results were ok. We are through in the Carabao Cup, we got a good point against Chelsea when we felt we deserved more and got an important win in the Europa League, so I think the momentum is changing a little bit. But of course Sunday is also a competition in which we need to do better than we are. The game is very important in that overall sentiment.”
On leaving the club in a better state than when he took over, he said:
“I think the results themselves will make that happen. It’s easier to manage a team that has won two our of the last three, the connection with the fans is there and there’s a good feeling that we can turn things around, which is what happening at the moment. The Sunday game is a big one.
“Especially for the club, it was very important after I took over to get what I call stabilising the ship with results. All of a sudden we’re three games into that, it passes so quickly, and the last one will mean a lot.”
Asked what he has learned, he said:
“I think I’m so focused on getting the best out of the players, working together with the staff members getting United back on track that I’ve not reflected on that, to be fair. I have learned a lot from being there, with other coaches and the players, so the knowledge of training sessions, managing individuals and teams, it’s something that has helped me as a coach.”
Van Nistelrooy was also asked if he thinks United need a proven goalscorer.
“I agree that when you want to be a successful side in the Premier League and in Europe, which is what the build is all about, you need a certain amount of goals. That is clear.
“That is why the best teams in the world have those players. At the moment, we have players who get a certain amount of goals and assists but they are in an age where they still need to be developed. There is potential they will be and the belief is there they can. That’s where we are at this moment.”
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
