Manchester United registered their maiden victory in the UEFA Europa League campaign by beating PAOK 2-0 at Old Trafford.
A second-half brace from ‘magnificent’ Amad Diallo proved the difference between the two sides.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy won his second game out of three as the team’s interim head coach.
Speaking after the game, Diallo lauded Van Nistelrooy for his contributions since his arrival in the summer.
He said (via TNT Sports): “It’s been a long time since we won in Europe.
“It is important to score every time. This season I have been a little bit unlucky but I am happy to score two goals.
“(The second goal) It is the work which we did in training. We have to press the opponent. I did my job, won the ball and scored.
“He [Ruud van Nistelrooy] has been important for everyone since he arrived. He is very close to the players. He is there to help all the players.
“He is very important to this team.”
This win takes United to the 15th spot in the Europa League table, amassing six points from the four games.
Van Nistelrooy moved to Old Trafford in the summer to be part of Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff.
He joined as assistant manager due to his love for United, turning down potential managerial offers from other clubs.
The former United striker has expressed his desire to stay at Old Trafford after the arrival of Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese will bring his own coaching staff who have been with him since he started as a manager.
This has led to a lot of uncertainty about the future of the Dutchman.
Diallo’s comment clearly shows that the players are fond of Van Nistelrooy and want him to stay even after Amorim takes charge.
The Dutchman could help the incoming head coach to connect better with the fans and the players.
However, it could also lead to possible conflicts, considering the two prefer to play different styles of football.
Amorim fields his team with a three-man defence with wing-backs playing a crucial role in attack and defence.
Van Nistelrooy supports a more traditional back-four and his thoughts may not align with the Portuguese.
The United hierarchy have a big call to make and hopefully they analyse both pros and cons before reaching a conclusion.
