Ruud van Nistelrooy not bothered if ex-Man Utd team-mates criticise him

The fan favourite returned to Old Trafford in the summer as one of Erik ten Hag’s assistants and was placed in temporary charge on Monday after a unanimous decision was taken to change manager.

Highly rated Sporting Lisbon head coach Amorim has been confirmed as Ten Hag’s successor but will not start until November 11, meaning Van Nistelrooy will take charge of three more United matches.

Chelsea arrive at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday and the former Netherlands international is focused on the job in hand rather than the brouhaha that follows the team.

“Look, in the end, you’re going to be judged,” said Van Nistelrooy, who secured a 5-2 Carabao Cup win against Leicester in his first match as caretaker manger.

“I think (Wednesday) was good, was very positive. You get positive critics and everybody’s positive.

“In football things can change, things can continue. I don’t believe the hype that much. I don’t believe the drama that much. I know it’s the world we live in.

“For me, it’s important to stay calm, stay focused, do my job on a daily basis. I think that also has to be the case for this club.

“We’re not going to turn it around from today to tomorrow, but I think we’re going to get it done and I believe in that over the longer future.”

United’s struggles since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as a Premier League champion in 2013 have been well documented and scrutinised in detail by high-profile pundits.

From Gary Neville to Roy Keane, and Rio Ferdinand to Paul Scholes, there are a variety of ex-United players in the media, but Van Nistelrooy has no issue with their impassioned views.

He said: “I mean, we all do our jobs, don’t we?

“I think basically they care for the club, they want the club to do well and they are disappointed as well if it doesn’t go well with the club and have opinions on it.

“I think it’s absolutely fine and I don’t take it personal. When I see them I have a cup of coffee with them, and I don’t have any problems with that.

“I appreciate them as former colleagues, some of them I’m still in touch with, and that’s the path they choose. Others go and stay in football more on the football side, so, for me, it’s absolutely fine.”

Van Nistelrooy decided to move into coaching rather than punditry, with the highlight being the 2022-23 Dutch Cup and second-placed Eredivisie finish he managed in his sole season as PSV boss.

The 48-year-old was linked with other management roles but instead returned to United as an assistant such was his desire to help the club he shone for as a player.

Asked if he wants to be a manager again at some stage in the future, interim boss Van Nistelrooy said: “That’s a good question, actually.

“Obviously I think this would be the only job that I would take as an assistant.

“So, for me, it was important to get a feel of it and how is it going over the course of two years and after that to make a decision. Is this something that is fulfilling for me in my job?

“I have to say, for the moment, I really enjoyed the role as an assistant.”

Van Nistelrooy has expressed his desire to stay at United when Amorim takes charge, but the future is unclear after the incoming head coach confirmed he will be bringing in his own staff.

“Obviously it can change, we all know that, but we’ll see,” he said, speaking before the Portuguese’s appointment.

“I’m not thinking in that way, I’m not here to prove myself in that way. I’m here to help.

“I’m here to do the best I can and do the best we can to get a result on Sunday.

“That’s my focus. All the other things are not in my mind.”