Sir Alex Ferguson “demanded” that his Manchester United players follow a rule during his 26-year tenure as manager, and Ruud van Nistelrooy has asked them to do likewise.
Before Ruben Amorim takes over on November 11, Van Nistelrooy, who assumed interim management after Erik ten Hag was fired on Monday, will continue to lead Old Trafford for games against Chelsea, PAOK, and Leicester.
The Dutchman defeated Leicester 5-2 in the Carabao Cup to begin his interim stint, but Sunday’s eagerly awaited Premier League matchup against Chelsea will undoubtedly be his most difficult test to date.
Sir Alex Ferguson “demanded” that his Manchester United players follow a rule during his 26-year tenure as manager, and Ruud van Nistelrooy has asked them to do likewise.
Van Nistelrooy has called on his team to adopt the ethos that Sir Alex Ferguson instilled in each and every one of his players ahead of the match.
“Ferguson said, ‘No one is bigger than the club,'” said Van Nistelrooy, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “Anyone can shout it.
But if you then, as Ferguson did, give substance to your own words with every decision, every choice, it becomes different. Then players know, ‘This is how it works here.'”
He continued: “Take the interaction with supporters. Always thanking people after a game, good or bad. Or at hotels where we come and where there are fans. Just handing out an autograph. Take a photo.
“Ferguson demanded us at the time to take time for that. I’m back there myself now. And I encourage it in players. Do I think it’s an example of an important cultural thing? Yes. He is present at every home game. That’s when we run into each other.
“He also came to watch Rangers when I coached PSV Eindhoven in Glasgow in the Champions League in 2022. I really appreciated that. Ferguson also openly states how nice it is that I am back. How good he thinks that is. That’s nice.
“This man has coloured a very important part of my football life. I was able to achieve my achievements at United partly because of him. He motivated, inspired, guided me through that period.”
