Ruud van Nistelrooy issues spikey response to Ruben Amorim Man Utd links

Ruud van Nistelrooy was not in the mood to entertain speculation around Ruben Amorim’s potential appointment as the next permanent Manchester United manager.

Van Nistelrooy has been placed in temporary charge after his former boss Erik ten Hag was dismissed as manager on Monday.

And the former Red Devils striker got his interim spell off to the perfect start with a thumping 5-2 win against Leicester City on Wednesday.

Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim is widely expected to be appointed as the next full-time successor, but may not be given the keys to Old Trafford until the next international break.

But Van Nistelrooy was not willing to talk about the Portuguese coach as he prepared his side for the visit of Chelsea on Sunday.

Asked at a press conference on Thursday if he had spoken to Amorim, the Dutchman responded: ‘Is he already announced? So we don’t know. Again, what the future will bring, we will see.’

The 48-year-old, however, was clear that he would like to stay at United in his role as assistant manager when the 39-year-old completed his move.

‘It’s going to be a short job as an interim, that was communicated very clear and I was happy with that,’ Van Nistelrooy said.

‘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.

‘I decided to come back here for a very important reason. I came as an assistant top 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.

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

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