Ruud van Nistelrooy tells Man Utd players to follow Sir Alex Ferguson's golden rule

Ruud van Nistelrooy is taking inspiration from in his bid to revive fortunes.

The Red Devils interim boss, whose tenure started on the perfect note on Wednesday night as United thumped 5-2 in the Carabao Cup, is waiting to discover whether he will form part of Ruben Amorim's backroom staff.

But even if the Portuguese's arrival cuts his emotional Old Trafford return short - Van Nistelrooy is striving to make a difference before the exciting new era commences on November 11.

He said ahead of today's showdown with : "Ferguson said: ‘no one is bigger than the club’.

"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.

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"Then players know: ‘this is how it works here’. 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."

Ferguson, who will leave his role as ambassador at the end of the season as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's cost-cutting measures, was heavily in favour of Van Nistelrooy's return according to the former PSV boss.

The Dutchman, who is set to remain in charge until the international break following Erik ten Hag's dismissal, continued: "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 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."

Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for the Red Devils before his departure in 2006, arrives at Carrington at seven o'clock every morning and at times, does not leave the vicinity until 6pm.

His decision to return to United as Ten Hag's assistant coach was also made at significant personal cost after leaving his family behind in his native Netherlands.

However, the love he has for both his family and the club is what keeps the fire burning within, as he explained: "It is much more than work. Otherwise, you wouldn't make the choice to sit here alone in a flat.

"We had to talk about it: are we as a family going to pay the price of dad going alone? Because that's the price. And you don't pay that for every club by a long shot. But for THIS club I do and it was our joint conclusion.

"I'd like to pass on to my children what Manchester United is to me."

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