Examines the contrasting experiences of Ruud van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford, highlighting his success as a player and the struggles he's faced as a manager at both Leicester and Manchester United.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has always enjoyed successful spells at Old Trafford, a fact that will undoubtedly be on the mind of the Leicester manager as his team journeys to Manchester United . As a player, the Dutchman achieved incredible feats, scoring 150 goals in fewer than 200 appearances during a remarkable five-year stint with the Red Devils.
Upon his return as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag last year, he briefly filled the void when ten Hag was absent, leading the team to four consecutive victories in a successful interim spell.Van Nistelrooy's appointment at Leicester after leaving Old Trafford was met with high expectations, much like his tenure at Manchester United. However, a closer examination of key performance indicators reveals a concerning trend: both clubs have experienced a decline in form since his departure. Under Steve Cooper, Leicester struggled at both ends of the pitch, displaying the lowest xG (13.72) and fewest shots per game (9.8) in the Premier League. They also conceded the third-highest xG against (26.6), with only two teams allowing more goals (23) or conceding more shots per game (17.6). In almost every significant statistic, from points per game (0.64 compared to Cooper's 1.08) to xG, Leicester has fallen short under Van Nistelrooy's leadership.Adding to the woes, Leicester has not shown substantial improvement in tactical approach, and their struggles cannot be attributed to adapting to a new system, an argument that might somewhat explain Manchester United's recent performance. Leicester is even experiencing less possession under Van Nistelrooy compared to Cooper's tenure, heavily relying on a low block and overdependence on counter-attacks fueled by the aging Jamie Vardy. The team's struggles against West Ham epitomize their current predicament. Dominated throughout the match, West Ham unleashed 31 shots with an xG of 3.1, a statistic that highlights their dominant performance. No team in over seven years has had more shots than West Ham in a Premier League match and lost. Leicester's goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, made seven incredible saves, while West Ham's Danny Ings hit a post, Crysencio Summerville had a shot cleared off the goal line, and a goal for the visitors was disallowed for a foul by Tomas Soucek.Adding to the woes, Leicester's January transfer activity further exacerbated their problems. While they sold Tom Cannon to Sheffield United for a £10 million fee, their only significant signing was a backup right-back, Woyo Coulibaly, in a £3 million deal from Parma, a sensible but uninspiring addition. Van Nistelrooy remains severely lacking in quality and options across crucial positions, particularly in central defense, attack (as a backup for Vardy), and on the wings. The team has visibly struggled with pace and creativity since Abdul Fatawu's November injury. Conversely, every other relegation-threatened club invested more in January – Wolves spent £42.6 million, Ipswich £21.5 million (including the loan signings of Julio Enciso and Ben Godfrey), and Southampton £4.2 million
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