Man United 3-0 Leicester (November 10, 2024) Match analysis

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes scored a goal and assisted two more in his side’s commanding 3-0 Premier League victory over Leicester City on Sunday, a victorious farewell to Ruud van Nistelrooy in his finale as interim coach.

United, who have recorded three wins and a draw across all competitions since manager Erik ten Hag was sacked on October 28 and temporarily replaced by Van Nistelrooy, sit 13th in the league table with 15 points, four points behind the top three. Leicester are in 15th place with 10 points.

Fernandes, who has gone his last 17 games under Ten Hag without scoring, celebrated his 250th appearance for United with a goal in the 17th minute, back-heeling a pass from Amad Diallo before firing a low, hard shot into the net shot from the far corner. For Van Nistelrooy it was the captain’s fourth goal in four games.

“It’s been a long time since I haven’t scored goals and now goals are coming in the last few games,” Fernandes said. “Another goal was important for us to restore the strength we had here. We have to continue to do that and improve.”

Leicester defender Victor Kristiansen was credited with United’s goal in the 38th minute when Fernandes missed an intended header from a Noussair Mazraoui cross, but the ball bounced off his thigh before deflecting into the goal by Kristiansen.

Alejandro Garnacho scored United’s third goal in the 82nd minute when Fernandes spotted him on the left and the Argentine striker sent a curling shot into the top corner.

The fans at Old Trafford chanted Van Nistelrooy’s name in the final minutes of the game.

Ten Hag’s permanent replacement Rúben Amorim arrives from Sporting CP on Monday, with his first game as United manager scheduled for November 24 at Ipswich Town. Van Nistelrooy’s future at United is yet to be clarified, although the team’s former striker has stated that he wants to remain with the team.

“I am absolutely convinced that this club has all the prerequisites to get back to the level that I knew as a player,” wrote Van Nistelrooy in Sunday’s match program. “From tomorrow I will stand behind our new head coach Ruben Amorim and I urge everyone who loves the club to do the same.”

Fernandes had kind words for the interim boss.

“Ruud van Nistelrooy fills the club, he loves the club, he wants to bring joy to the players,” he said. “He brought everyone to the games with a smile, he just wanted us to enjoy it. We wanted to say goodbye to him properly as managers because he did good things for us.”

“It’s a new era, a new manager means everything changes, but what hasn’t changed is that this club needs to get back to where it belongs.”

Sunday’s game took a turn for the worse along with the weather in the second half on Sunday, although Jordan Ayew had an excellent chance for the visitors when he fired a shot at the near post that went wide for a corner.

United have lost just two of their last 18 Premier League games against the Foxes.