Ruud van Nistelrooy has been warned he may not be able to implement his attacking tactics at Leicester City as they battle to stay up in the Premier League.
The Manchester United legend was announced as Leicester’s new manager on Friday, just a few weeks after departing Old Trafford following his interim spell in charge.
He was not in the dugout on Saturday however as the Foxes travelled to Brentford, but was in the stands to witness his new team get thrashed 4-1.
The result keeps the club just a point above the relegation zone, leaving plenty of work for Van Nistelrooy to do, with Leicester set to host West Ham on Tuesday night.
The Dutchman has already stated he wants to implement his attack-first philosophy, which will no doubt please supporters who were discontented with previous manager Steve Cooper’s more pragmatic approach.
However former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy has warned Van Nistelrooy that that will be easier said than done, saying on Match of the Day: ‘He’s got a hell of a job.
‘I think the first thing is about trying to build some confidence and getting the lads enjoying their football again.
‘And then he’s got to make a decision on what style, because obviously the fans have been a little bit disgruntled with Steve Cooper’s pragmatism. But they can’t play too open because we saw what happened today [against Brentford].
‘They’ve got some half-decent fixtures coming up. Four home games in the next six is not a bad start for him. I’m excited to see what he can do.’
Before the new year, Leicester do indeed have some favourable fixtures against West Ham and Wolves, but they also take on high-flying Brighton, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Van Nistelrooy only has one season on managerial experience to his name with PSV, where in 51 games they scored 126 goals but conceded 60.
Ironically, two of his four games as interim United head coach were against the Foxes, winning 5-2 and 3-0.
Van Nistelrooy said upon his arrival at the King Power: ‘The way Leicester played under [Enzo] Maresca, winning the Championship, going into the Premier League I also see that line continuing in those structures, an idea of play.
‘I can plug into that because I relate to those structures and way of play, play forward and create chances of course is the main goal and translate it into points.
‘I have to say, a lot of principles and structures that I see on and off the ball are structures that I used myself a lot as PSV manager and at United, not all, of course, but many of them.’
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