Man Utd 5-2 Leicester: Ruud van Nistelrooy gets off to a winning start in the Carabao Cup

November 3rd: Chelsea (h) 4.30 p.m., Premier League &#8211; Live on Sky Sports
November 7th: PAOK (h) 8 p.m., Europa League
November 10th: Leicester (h) 2pm, Premier League
November 24th: Ipswich (a) 4:30pm, Premier League – Live on Sky Sports
November 28th: Bodo/Glimt (h) 8 p.m., Europa League

Manchester United responded to the sacking of Erik ten Hag with a 5-2 win over a weakened Leicester side to reach the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup in a convincing first game for interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Blame Sunday’s defeat against West Ham, Ten Hag’s last game, on a poor finish, but United have regained their confidence in front of goal under Van Nistelrooy, aided by Steve Cooper, who was in the Premier League ahead of Leicester’s trip to Ipswich made nine changes.

Casemiro lifted a dismal Old Trafford with a great long-range shot and opened the scoring by firing the ball straight into the top corner. Alejandro Garnacho quickly followed up and doubled United’s lead, driving in from Diogo Dalot’s cross from the right.

Bruno Fernandes, who hadn’t scored before this game, scored twice on the night, his first a free kick aided by a deflection four minutes after Leicester pulled it back through Bilal El Khannouss. Casemiro then pounced on a rebound and added his second goal soon after.

Fernandes’ second goal was another timely intervention as United had fallen behind after Conor Coady equalized in first-half stoppage time. The United captain went around Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward and shot home from close range.

United, winners of the Carabao Cup under Ten Hag in 2023, were not distracted by speculation surrounding new coach Ruben Amorim and maintained their impressive cup form. Leicester, on the other hand, clearly have different priorities.