New Leicester manager Van Nistelrooy was ‘surprised’ by the interest in him after his short spell at Manchester United

Ruud van Nistelrooy said he was “surprised” by the amount of interest in him that came after his spell at Manchester United, which he feels led to the Leicester job.

The Dutchman was named as Steve Coopers’ successor at the Foxes on Saturday, just 20 days after he left United following the arrival of Ruben Amorim.

Van Nistelrooy, who previously spent a year in charge of PSV Eindhoven, played just four games after the sacking of Erik ten Hag, won three and drew one but was surprised by how many chances he was given.

In his first press conference as Leicester boss ahead of Tuesday night’s game against West Ham, the former Red Devils player said: “I thought, ‘it was four games, and I’ve spent the whole time at PSV’. We won the Dutch Cup and the Charity Shield and the competition with Jong PSV.

“Never heard this from the world of football. It seems to have upset this and I was happy about it.

“To start talking with different parties, to be in a place that listens to me well. Now I am here.”

Welcome, Ruud van Nistelrooy 🦊 💙 pic.twitter.com/wHcwZc85eY

— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 29, 2024

Van Nistelrooy: Effects on movement

Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Brentford leaves Leicester top of the relegation zone and Van Nistelrooy insists that getting the results that lead them to safety is more important than using a beautiful display.

The 48-year-old said: “I think about one thing before preparing for every game, and that is to win.” When you play the top teams in the Premier League, the middle teams or the lower teams, sometimes you need a different approach.

The gameplay is changed to: ‘How can we win here?’ I’m not a romantic manager who puts style before results.

“I like the style, I like to have the ball, I like to create more chances, to press the team up, because you have a lot of the ball, but we are facing opponents here and we are not a big side in this league. We are approaching every game in this league to win.”

Enzo Maresca to discuss

Van Nistelrooy said he spoke to Chelsea manager and former team-mate Enzo Maresca about taking the Foxes job after the Italian led the East Midlands side to the Championship title last season.

He said: “When the first opportunity came, I thought about the club, the players, the gym and the installation. I wanted to know about the people who worked there.

“Enzo is a good friend and my friend was one of the first to call. What information can I get?

“When we played against each other when I was interim manager (at Man Utd) against Chelsea, we spoke for half an hour even though I didn’t know about Leicester at the time.

He was happy then, and it felt better when I talked to him again. He was very accurate in my first impressions. “

Leicester will make a transfer window

Van Nistelrooy said he is “open-minded” about how Leicester approach the January transfer window with six games until the window opens.

“That was a topic of discussion,” he said. The two conversations I had were open and clear. For me, it was important to know the current situation and the future.

“January was discussed, but what was also discussed was the current team. It is very important that I look at the players in the coming weeks in January and give each player a chance.

“As well as the employees who are staying, I’m working with the people who are still on the team. I want to bring more people, but I’m willing to work with them. So we can choose from there.”