Eleven days after Manchester United's rout of Leicester under Ruud van Nistelrooy in the Carabao Cup, the interim manager concluded his four-game tenure with another comfortable victory over the Foxes, remaining unbeaten. The Dutchman secured three wins in total, with Bruno Fernandes playing a pivotal role in this latest triumph. Fernandes marked his 250th United appearance by scoring the opening goal and creating enough chaos for Victor Kristiansen to inadvertently score an own goal, making it 2-0.
Fernandes' goal was his fourth under Van Nistelrooy's brief reign, contrasting sharply with his zero goals under Erik ten Hag in the previous 17 matches, a streak that dated back to April. Ten Hag has since been replaced by Rúben Amorim, whose tenure as the new head coach begins on Monday, as United hope this latest managerial change will finally yield the desired results.
Van Nistelrooy made one change to the team that drew with Chelsea, introducing the explosive Amad Diallo in place of Alejandro Garnacho. Diallo's aggressive play kept the visitors on the back foot throughout the match. His quick dart into Leicester's territory led to a foul, but Fernandes' subsequent free-kick was cleared by the defense. United maintained pressure, forcing Leicester into counter-attacks, which they narrowly escaped.
Diallo's double in the previous 2-0 victory over PAOK was marked by a cleverly looped header, and United attempted a similar move. Marcus Rashford's cross from the left was headed out by Kristiansen. However, Kristiansen's hesitation during a long clearance led to Fernandes' opening goal, as Diallo's pressure forced an error. Fernandes then showcased his skill with a backheeled pass that set up a curling shot into the bottom left corner, leaving the goalkeeper furious at his defenders.
United's dominance continued, with Harry Winks' hopeful effort symbolizing Leicester's struggle. However, gaps in midfield allowed quick transitions, leading to a potential penalty that was controversially not awarded. A series of errors from Leicester's defense culminated in an own goal, extending United's lead to 2-0.
As the match progressed, Van Nistelrooy made tactical substitutions, replacing Rashford with Garnacho and Dalot with Evans. Despite some close calls, United managed to maintain their lead, with Fernandes' curving pass setting up Garnacho's decisive goal, sealing the victory.
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