MANCHESTER: Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy believes his side can bounce back from their worst start to the season after seeing his team’s spirit shown in the two games since Erik ten Hag was sacked.

Moises Caicedo’s second-half strike cancelled out United’s early penalty for a 1-1 draw in the Premier League clash at Old Trafford.

Despite not managing to collect full points, Van Nistelrooy said there were positives to take from the match.

“We take the lead first and the performance, with the spirit shown, is the basis for building a team… then the quality of football will emerge.

“That is the basis needed to build it, and there is still a lot of time to improve the position,” said Van Nistelrooy.

The draw saw United climb one place, to 13th after 10 games.

Van Nistelrooy said, since the day Ten Hag was fired, the situation has been very difficult for the team.

“Six days, emotions up and down, obviously very sad to see Erik go, the next day you have to focus again for the game against Leicester (Wednesday’s 5-2 League Cup win), because 75,000 fans will be at Old Trafford, so we have a responsibility , and the players realize they need to do better,” he said.

United’s nine goals in 10 games, the third-worst in the league, is their lowest tally at this level since the 1973-74 league campaign.

LONDON: Ruben Amorim has been announced as Manchester United’s new manager to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.

The 39-year-old Portuguese coach, who won two Primeira Liga titles with Sporting Lisbon, signed a contract until 2027 and will join the club on November 11.

“Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Ruben Amorim as head coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements,” United said on their official website.

“He will be with the team until June 2027 with an additional year option, once he completes his responsibilities with his current club.”

United describe Amorim as one of the most exciting and high-calibre young coaches in European football.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to manage the team until Amorim arrives at Old Trafford.

United sacked Ten Hag on Monday after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham left them 14th in the Premier League, with just three wins from nine games.

LONDON: Liverpool boss Arne Slot insists Erik ten Hag will be back at “a big club again” after being sacked by Manchester United.

Ten Hag’s two-year spell as United manager came to an end yesterday, with the English giants languishing in 14th place in the league following a 2-1 defeat at West Ham last weekend – his final game in charge.

Slot’s team was also involved in putting pressure on his compatriot from the Netherlands, Ten Hag with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford last September.

But despite the animosity between Liverpool and United, the Reds boss – in his first season in the hot seat at Anfield after replacing Jurgen Klopp – was sympathetic when asked about the Ten Hag during yesterday’s pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s League Cup clash with Brighton at home.

“He is a Dutch manager which makes it more difficult for me,” said Slot, 46.

“I sympathize with his plight. We’re all in this job so we know it can happen.

“I only know him a little bit and I know how hard he works. For him it’s certainly disappointing. But we also know how good he was at Ajax and he won two trophies (League Cup and FA Cup) here.

“I think you’ll see him at a big club again after this.”

Ten Hag helped United deny Premier League champions Manchester City a domestic double with a surprise FA Cup final victory over their neighbors at Wembley last May.

“I feel really sorry for him, it’s one of the best jobs in football,” City manager Pep Guardiola said of Ten Hag.

“There’s only us, not teachers or architects or anything like that.

“I wish him the best and he will come back stronger. If the results are not good enough, you will be fired. No one is different, including myself.”

LONDON: Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he could only blame his team’s finishing after the 2-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham late last night.

United slumped to 14th in the Premier League (EPL) table after Jarrod Bowen’s controversial stoppage-time penalty gifted the Hammers all three points.

Crysencio Summerville put West Ham ahead against the run of play 16 minutes from time before Casemiro equalised.

Ten Hag were furious at the awarding of the penalty after VAR intervened when Matthijs de Ligt collided with Danny Ings in the penalty box.

United captain Bruno Fernandes’ red card was withdrawn after he was sent off in last month’s 3-0 defeat at Tottenham and Ten Hag said VAR was inconsistent in challenging the referee’s decision in the middle of the pitch.

“Before the season they explained the VAR process – only when it was clear they could intervene,” said Ten Hag.

“What they didn’t do against Spurs, it was a bad decision. Now they made a bad decision and they both had an impact on the game. I’m not criticizing the officials, I’m criticizing the process.”

However, less sharp finishing in front of goal caused United to fail to get a much-needed win.

Diogo Dalot missed chances despite the goal gaping, while Alejandro Garnacho and Fernandes were guilty of missing golden opportunities in their dominant first half.

“We created too many chances, played good football, especially in the first half. That’s how I want my team to perform whether with the ball or not,” stressed Ten Hag.

United’s tally of eight goals from their first nine games is their worst in the EPL era.

BARCELONA: Barcelona manager Hansi Flick says his side’s 4-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League has boosted their confidence ahead of Saturday’s Clasico clash with Real Madrid.

Former Bayern boss Flick is happy to help Barca end their win streak over the German club.

“This win is unbelievable. Bayern are a good team, with great players who know how to play very well, you want to see them in action.

“Of course a win like this needs to be celebrated. It gives us confidence in our quality ahead of this Saturday’s game.

“What this team showed proved that you can achieve great success. We played very bravely, that’s why I’m quite happy

“We have less time than Real Madrid to prepare for the Clasico, but all the players want to play. We will be ready,” said Flick.

After losing six in a row – with Barcelona conceding 22 goals to Bayern’s just four, including an 8-2 defeat in the Champions League quarter-finals four years ago – the Spanish giants have been more aggressive this time around.

Raphinha scored a hat-trick to seal Barcelona’s win at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, with former Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski also scoring.

Bayern burst into the game with a single goal through Harry Kane.