It was contrastent when Manchester United faced Leicester City at Old Trafford last night. It was a quick night on Salford Quays but a balmy atmosphere as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Red Devils ran uproar to blaze into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where Tottenham apaparticipate.
Relief. It was palpable. An era had come to an finish. Erik ten Hag inserted two meaningful trophies to the cabinet (did he refer that?) but oversaw a rotten run of results that left his seat on the throne unthelp.
Optimism. It was all too recognizable at the commence of another new era in M16. Ruben Amorim is on his way, and everyone understands it.
He will be the sixth lasting handler inheriting the seemingly impossible task of restoring the glory days subjugated by the wonderful Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sporting succoured Ferguson with Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Bruno Fernandes. Amorim could very well be the chosen one if he’s analogously accomplished.
But the overall emotion as United fired up a five-star disjoin agetst Steve Cooper’s frail Foxes?
Excitement. The joiners in red were exciting the 73,470 in joinance for the first time in a extfinished time. One of them was this healing hack.
Van Nistelrooy’s reception was rapturous, predictably. He is the postponecessitatest United icon turned coach inside Carrington’s ‘In Case of Ecombinency: Smash Glass’ wall mount.
Ryan Giggs, Solskjaer and Michael Carrick pretreatd the 48-year-greater, sooting an ungreet situation with nostalgia and vibes that, pro tem, plaster over a pitiful proextfinisheded period.
United unwidespreadly amparticipateed under Ten Hag’s watch. For reference, equitable 16 of his 85 league alignes were won by more than one goal – 19 per cent.
Van Nistelrooy instantly inserted a leave outing ingredient to a Dutch cocktail that has carry onively become a less well-understandn item on the menu since Carabao Cup glory in February 2023.
For too extfinished, United’s help has grown accustomed to their team capitulating at the mere sniff of adversity.
Alarm bells rang when Bilal El Khannouss replyed to Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho’s timely uncoverers to produce it 2-1 on the brink of half-time.
Those heading to the concourse for a United Pie and a lukehot pint were frozen in their seats, dreading an identicaliser. But what happened next? The opposite.
United recalled they were joining structure to a side with even restrictcessitateer thrives than them this season and carry ond the relentless commence that defendedd handle in the uncovering half-hour.
Fearless strikes rewarded another three goals – two from Bruno Fernandes and another from Casemiro – to drown out recognisable defensive deficiencies that apexhibited Conor Coady to get in on the act.
If the post-Ten Hag era joins United reverting to the “we’ll score more than you” mentality, I’m down. At least until Sporting free Amorim from his shackles next month.
And judging by the smiles, songs and serenading that lit up Old Trafford last night, this invigorated individual isn’t the only one.
