Ruud van Nistelrooy is not expecting an easy ride from his former Manchester United teammates in the media during his spell as interim manager.
The voices of former players such as Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Rio Ferdinand, members of the all-conquering Sir Alex Ferguson side that also featured Van Nistelrooy, have become prominent in the discussion around United in recent years.
With the Dutchman in situ as United’s interim manager for three more games until the November international break – when Rúben Amorim is set to take permanent charge – he is braced for whatever the critics throw at him.
“We all do our jobs don’t we and basically they care for the club,” Van Nistelrooy said when asked whether his former colleagues’ criticism would be an issue. “They want the club to do well, and they are disappointed when it doesn’t go well, and they have opinions on that.
“I don’t take it personally. When I see them and have a cup of coffee with them I have no problems. I appreciate them as former colleagues and some of them I’m still in touch with. That’s the path some of them choose and others stay more on the football side, so for me it is absolutely fine.”
Van Nistelrooy oversaw a free-scoring 5-2 win over Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday in his first game after Erik ten Hag’s sacking. A sterner test of his credentials awaits on Sunday as in-form Chelsea visit Old Trafford.
“In the end you are going to be judged,” he said. “I think [against Leicester] the reaction was good and everybody was positive. In football things can change or it can continue, but I don’t believe the hype or the drama that much, I know it’s the world we live in. For me it’s important to stay calm, do my job on a daily basis and I think that also has to be the case for this club. We are not going to turn it around from today to tomorrow. But I believe we’re going to get it done over the long-term future.”
Van Nistelrooy also believes Joshua Zirkzee will rise above the critics and become a key man for United. Zirkzee, signed for €42.5m (£35.8m) from Bologna in the summer, scored on his debut but has failed to find the net in 13 subsequent appearances and has taken flak from fans.
“He’s a young player with a lot of potential,” Van Nistelrooy said of his countryman. “He’s a typical No 9 in the sense that [his] hold-up play is very good, he’s good in the combination play. He’s a different type to Rasmus [Højlund], who’s getting behind defenders. Josh is more one who’s coming towards the ball and gets the team playing. He’s one with a lot of talent, a good age and a lot of potential to develop. One we need to look after, give him time and he will get better and better and be a very big player for this club.”
