Fans have been chanting the name of Ruud van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford, the site of countless goals as a Manchester United player. Van Nistelrooy's brief appearance as caretaker manager has lifted the gloom at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils' 3-0 win over Leicester was their third in four games since Erik ten Hag was sacked. And it was the first time they have scored three goals in a Premier League game this season. Bruno Fernandes has also scored four goals under Van Nistelrooy after a slump at the start of the season.
Looking back at Man United's last four matches in all competitions, the question arises, why were they so bad not long ago. Only when Ten Hag left and Van Nistelrooy took over, the atmosphere at Old Trafford was no longer stifling. Rays of hope appeared again after a long period of darkness.
There was not much time for Van Nistelrooy to calculate tactically, he simply did it his way. And of course, Ruben Amorim will not apply the same tactics as Van Nistelrooy in the past matches.
Bruno Fernandes' role under Amorim will be a subject of debate. Will the Portuguese midfielder maintain his form without the freedom to roam and play as a number 10? But that's a story for another day.
Most importantly, the toxicity that had engulfed Old Trafford had dissipated. There was a sense that United had done the right thing. They had good reason not to appoint Van Nistelrooy as permanent manager, despite their impressive recent record.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, Man United have failed many times when trusting the club's legend. It would be risky to put faith in Van Nistelrooy in a long-term and complex project like Man United's.
Whether Van Nistelrooy will be an assistant coach at Man United remains to be seen. However, one thing is for sure, he has done an excellent job as a stand-in.
This will be a springboard for the club to look forward to the future with optimism. Regardless of what happens next, the victory over Leicester will be a special mark for Van Nistelrooy and the "Red Devils" fans.
"I just feel like I've completed four games of my mission. Everything is over but my future is still open. We created the right feeling for the players, made them believe in themselves and give their all" - the Dutch strategist said after the win over Leicester.
