Ruud van Nistelrooy lifts lid on Man Utd team talk that inspired thumping Leicester win

Ruud van Nistelrooy has opened up on the surreal experience of delivering a team-talk to Manchester United's players in the home dressing room at Old Trafford.

Despite making 219 appearances for United and scoring 150 goals over five years, Van Nistelrooy admitted it was strange to find himself in the role Sir Alex Ferguson fulfilled when he was playing.

Van Nistelrooy, who received a good luck message from Ferguson before Wednesday's 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester, revealed how he inspired United's players to deliver arguably their best performance of the season by reminding them how privileged they are to wear the famous red shirt.

“It's the other side, being a football player or a manager or assistant,” said Van Nistelrooy. “It's completely opposite sides.

“My team talk, I'm standing in front of the team, telling them about what Manchester United is all about, what it is to play at Old Trafford, what songs are being sung by the fans and why.

“You try to transmit that lovely feeling of playing for this club. It’s a proud moment to do that and to share that with players and what they were transmitting on the pitch and the way it interacted with the supporters towards me, it was unbelievable support and it only strengthens me to do the utmost, especially short-term, for Chelsea on Sunday.

“I spoke to Sir Alex. He wished me luck. We spoke shortly about my situation, shortly about the team and most of all he wished me luck before the game. It’s always great to speak to him.”

Given the controversial way Van Nistelrooy's United playing career ended in 2006, the 48-year-old admitted he did not think he would one day be back at the club, let alone in charge of the team, even if it is only for the short-term.

Back in 2006, Van Nistelrooy was left out of United's starting line-up for the final game of the season against Charlton and left Old Trafford in a rage at the perceived snub, which ultimately led to his move to Real Madrid that summer.

Asked if he could have imagined being in charge of United, given his acrimonious exit, Van Nistelrooy said: “Well, no. At the time, I wasn't thinking about managing. I left in 2006 - oh my God, what a long time ago – to go to Real Madrid, then obviously after that you think about coaching.

“But it was special to come back to the club and to the city I liked and loved so much and still do. I enjoy it and I enjoy being around Manchester and working with the players and staff here.”

Although United are set to appoint Sporting Lisbon Ruben Amorim, who will bring with him his own coaching staff, Van Nistelrooy's enduring affinity with the club is the reason why he came back as an assistant to Ten Hag and why he wants to stay on in his role as a coach, after his interim spell ends.

“I decided to come back here for a very important reason - that I'm here ,” said Van Nistelrooy. “I came as an assistant top help the club move 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.

“It's a contract situation I'm in and my desire is to help the club move forward. I can speak to you about my side of the story and after that, when a new situation is occurring and when a new manager is signing and conversations take place, we have to see how things develop.

“But I want to help. I want to do everything I can, as many others do here, to fight for this club. The club is in a difficult situation and it’s not where we all want it to be. But the challenge is there, that's why I'm here.

“Everybody's looking at Manchester United and the situation it's in, but it’s up to us as people here on the ground to do the utmost, supported by our fans, of course.”

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