After a busy and hectic week at Old Trafford, following the departure of Erik ten Hag, there’s been a huge inquest into how the season has started, why he was backed in the summer despite the inevitable sacking shortly into the campaign, who may take charge as his replacement, and Ruud van Nistelrooy being given temporary duties as he’s also in the running for the permanent job.

The League Cup clash at home to Leicester is arguably exactly what the board would have wanted, as attention turned back onto the pitch, for what ended up being a dominant display as United remain in contention for a cup run which has seen success for them in the last 2 years under Ten Hag despite the issues elsewhere. With the Old Trafford crowd roaring, Ruud in the dugout producing an attacking performance and a big discussion topic over the Ten Hag situation and guessing who will be next in the hot seat, it’s been a busy week at the club, and surely only going to get crazier as the week goes on.

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Teams

Ruud’s first team selection offered little change from the Ten Hag tenure, with the formation and setup being largely similar, but with the rotation later on to allow for attacking rotation, and even a cameo for youngster Ethan Wheatley. Given Van Nistelrooy’s pedigree in attack, giving minutes to a young forward suggests he’s seen something in his work on the training ground which could indicate a strong future for the youngster going forward with however takes permanent charge.

For Leicester, they had to call upon their bench in the second half as they pushed to get a footing back in the game. Given their league struggles this season, the cup could have offered a morale boosting win, but despite scoring twice, they couldn’t do enough in defence to hold out a buoyed United.

Manchester United: Bayindir, Martinez (Mazraoui 62′), Lindelof, De Ligt (Evans 72′), Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Garnacho (Hojlund 73′), Fernandes, Rashford (Amad 63′), Zirkzee (Wheatley 85′)

Subs: Heaton, Amass, Fletcher, Fitzgerald

Leicester City: Ward, Thomas, Coady, Okoli (Vestergaard 71′), Justin, Soumare, Skipp, McAteer (Buonanotte 72′), El Khannouss (Edouard 72′), Reid (Mavididi 72′), Ayew (Alves 72′)

Subs: Iversen, Pereira, Winks, Ndidi

Manchester United 5-2 Leicester City

Manchester United threw down the gauntlet from the first whistle of the Fourth Round Carabao Cup tie at Old Trafford, with interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy orchestrating a breathless 5-2 win over Leicester City, his first game in charge following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal. Casemiro was the catalyst, smashing a spectacular long-range strike into the top-corner in the 15th minute to ignite the home supporters.

The goals flowed in rapid succession. Alejandro Garnacho emphatically doubled the lead in the 28th, following Diogo Dalot’s incisive cross. Leicester, however, responded with intent, Bilal El Khannouss capitalised on a spilled punch from Bayindir to pull one back in the 33rd minute. United reasserted control when Bruno Fernandes converted a free-kick via a lucky deflection to restore a two-goal cushion just before the half-hour mark, and then Casemiro headed in the rebound after a header cannoned off the post in the 39th minute. Leicester struck again in first-half stoppage time when a lofted free-kick from Luke Thomas ricocheted off Dalot into the path of Conor Coady, who duly nodded it home to make it 4-2 at the break.

Although the opening salvo had stolen the show, the second half offered more controlled, fluid football. United didn’t relent, and neither did Fernandes, who capitalised on a shaky back-pass from Caleb Okoli in the 59th. He rounded Leicester’s keeper Danny Ward and slotted home with composure to seal the emphatic 5-2 victory. Leicester had fleeting bursts, Amad Diallo nearly added to the tally with a stunning overhead kick that narrowly missed, but no further goals followed.

For United, it was an electrifying launchpad under Ruud van Nistelrooy, an immediate morale-boost that swept aside the unease of managerial upheaval. The win carried them comfortably into the quarter-finals and injected much-needed positive momentum into their cup campaign. Although Leicester had shown some fighting spirit, United’s ruthless attacking execution ensured there would be no late comeback moments to worry for the home faithful.

Talking Points

Ruud van Nistelrooy could hardly have wished for a brighter start to life in the Old Trafford dugout. The Dutchman, appointed interim manager earlier in the week, watched his side dismantle Leicester City 5-2 in the Carabao Cup with a performance brimming with energy and intent. It was a statement victory not only because of the scoreline, but also because of the way United played, sharp, fearless, and front-footed from the very first whistle. For a club that had been mired in uncertainty following Erik ten Hag’s departure, this felt like a decisive new beginning.

The manner of United’s attacking play will have been particularly pleasing for van Nistelrooy. Casemiro’s thunderbolt set the tone, while Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes played with invention and swagger, ensuring the home side never lost their grip on the game. Even when Leicester threatened, United answered back with ruthless efficiency, piling forward in numbers and creating chances at will. It wasn’t just the five goals, but the manner of them, high tempo, risk-taking, and expressive football that suggested van Nistelrooy is intent on restoring the kind of cutting edge supporters have craved.

Perhaps most importantly, the Old Trafford crowd rediscovered its voice. This was not the anxious, subdued atmosphere that had crept in during recent weeks of poor form, but a noisy, vibrant backing for a team that looked liberated. Every goal was greeted with a roar, every wave of pressure with belief, and by the final whistle the mood was unmistakably upbeat. After a turbulent spell, Manchester United fans were given a reminder of what their team can look like when playing with conviction, and that optimism could prove just as valuable as the win itself.