It was different when Manchester United faced Leicester City at Old Trafford last night. It was a brisk night on Salford Quays but a balmy atmosphere as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Red Devils ran riot to blaze into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where Tottenham await.
Relief. It was palpable. An era had come to an end. Erik ten Hag added two major trophies to the cabinet (did he mention that?) but oversaw a rotten run of results that left his seat on the throne untenable.
Optimism. It was all too familiar at the start of another new era in M16. Ruben Amorim is on his way, and everyone knows it.
He will be the sixth permanent manager inheriting the seemingly impossible task of restoring the glory days subjugated by the great 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 similarly successful.
But the overall emotion as United fired up a five-star display against Steve Cooper’s frail Foxes?
Excitement. The players in red were exciting the 73,470 in attendance for the first time in a long time. One of them was this healing hack.
Van Nistelrooy’s reception was rapturous, predictably. He is the latest United icon turned coach inside Carrington’s ‘In Case of Emergency: Smash Glass’ wall mount.
Ryan Giggs, Solskjaer and Michael Carrick preceded the 48-year-old, sooting an unwanted situation with nostalgia and vibes that, pro tem, plaster over a pitiful prolonged period.
United rarely entertained under Ten Hag’s watch. For reference, just 16 of his 85 league matches were won by more than one goal – 19 per cent.
Van Nistelrooy instantly added a missing ingredient to a Dutch cocktail that has progressively become a less popular item on the menu since Carabao Cup glory in February 2023.
For too long, United’s support has grown accustomed to their team capitulating at the mere sniff of adversity.
Alarm bells rang when Bilal El Khannouss responded to Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho’s early openers to make it 2-1 on the brink of half-time.
Those heading to the concourse for a United Pie and a lukewarm pint were frozen in their seats, dreading an equaliser. But what happened next? The opposite.
United remembered they were playing host to a side with even fewer wins than them this season and continued the relentless start that secured control in the opening half-hour.
Fearless attacks rewarded another three goals – two from Bruno Fernandes and another from Casemiro – to drown out recognisable defensive deficiencies that allowed Conor Coady to get in on the act.
If the post-Ten Hag era involves United reverting to the “we’ll score more than you” mentality, I’m down. At least until Sporting release 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.
