Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Tenure Begins with a Win as Man United Defeats Leicester 5-2, Securing a Spot in the Carabao Cup Quarterfinals

In a refreshing return to form, Manchester United netted five goals at Old Trafford, with fans chanting “attack, attack, attack” as the team found confidence under Van Nistelrooy, taking charge after Erik ten Hag’s departure following the West Ham loss.

This match marked just United’s fifth win in 15 games this season, giving the home crowd a reason to celebrate against a weakened Leicester squad. Here’s a breakdown of the Manchester United players’ performances:

Altay Bayindir – 6Despite United’s dominance, Bayindir looked shaky during Leicester’s few chances. A misjudged punch led to Leicester’s goal in the 33rd minute, and he nearly repeated the mistake with McAteer’s shot before halftime. His rating improved thanks to a brilliant second-half save, pushing the ball onto the crossbar as Leicester pressured.

Victor Lindelof – 6Still working on his partnership with De Ligt at center-back, Lindelof struggled at times to handle crosses. However, with Jamie Vardy absent, he wasn’t tested consistently. This was just his second start of the season.

Matthijs De Ligt – 7A more physical force in defense than in recent games, though a stronger attack could have posed greater challenges. Kasey McAteer outplayed him a few times, and he was subbed off in the 71st minute for Jonny Evans.

Lisandro Martinez – 6Appeared vulnerable at left-back with Lindelof covering center-back duties. James Justin frequently found open space in the second half before United extended their lead to 5-2.

Diogo Dalot – 6Operating on his preferred right side, Dalot often pushed into midfield, leaving his defensive position exposed. In the first half, he held Justin onside and played backward too often, yet connected well with Casemiro’s lofted pass to assist Garnacho’s first goal. He also inadvertently contributed to Leicester’s second goal as a deflection off him allowed Coady to score.

Casemiro – 9