Ruud van Nistelrooy has said he does not take personally any criticism from his former Manchester United teammates now working as pundits, such as Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Rio Ferdinand. The interim manager, who played alongside them under Sir Alex Ferguson, acknowledged they care deeply about the club and are disappointed when results falter.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea, Van Nistelrooy stressed that he still enjoys cordial relations with his former colleagues. “I appreciate them as former colleagues and some of them I’m still in touch with,” he said. “That’s the path some of them choose and others stay more on the football side, so for me it is absolutely fine.”
The Dutchman took charge after Erik ten Hag's sacking and oversaw a 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester. He cautioned against both hype and drama, insisting long-term progress is needed. “We are not going to turn it around from today to tomorrow,” he said. “But I believe we’re going to get it done over the long-term future.”
Van Nistelrooy also defended striker Joshua Zirkzee, who has struggled since his summer move from Bologna. The interim boss described the 23-year-old as a “young player with a lot of potential” who needs time and support to become a key figure for the club.
