Rúben Amorim responds to Ruud van Nistelrooy’s ruthless message after Manchester United winner

Rúben Amorim has responded to a ruthless message from Ruud van Nistelrooy after Manchester United defeated Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round.

Manchester United have secured their place in the FA Cup fifth round after Harry Maguire’s dramatic stoppage-time header sealed a 2-1 victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford on Friday night.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester side set up to frustrate United, absorbing pressure well in the opening stages. Despite United gradually growing into the game, it was the visitors who struck first, as Bobby De Cordova-Reid finished clinically just before the break.

Rúben Amorim’s side, meanwhile, struggled to create clear chances and failed to register a shot on target in the first half. Looking to turn things around, Amorim introduced Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee at the start of the second half.

Garnacho nearly made an instant impact, seeing his effort cleared off the line, sparking the Old Trafford crowd into life. United’s persistence soon paid off when a deflected Rasmus Højlund shot fell kindly to Zirkzee, who calmly slotted home the equaliser.

With the game heading into stoppage time, United continued to push for a winner. Their efforts were rewarded when Bruno Fernandes delivered a pinpoint free kick into the box, allowing Maguire to rise highest and power a header into the net, completing the comeback and sending United through in dramatic fashion.

Van Nistelrooy’s ruthless message

Speaking to ITV after the fixture, Van Nistelrooy was fuming at the match officials after it was confirmed that Maguire was offside in the build-up to his winning goal, but as there was no VAR on the night, the goal was not chalked off.

“We are not defeated in Fergie time, we are defeated in offside time,” the ex-United player and coach responded when asked about conceding a goal in ‘Fergie Time’ against his former club.

The Dutchman was then questioned about the lack of VAR in use at this stage of the FA Cup, but he believed it was a simple decision that the linesman could make in real-time.

“This wasn’t necessary,” he then added. “VAR you have in a couple centimetres, a couple of inches, this was half a metre, clear in line.

“That was a hard one to take because the team deserves to draw in the end. Then extra time, stay in the game you, never know what happens.”

Amorim sympathises with Van Nistelrooy

Speaking to the press after the result, Amorim was asked about Maguire’s offside position and if that was the type of luck he feels United need right now during their dire spell.

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The 40-year-old responded by explaining that although he agrees United need luck, he had sympathy for Van Nistelrooy as he knows the goal should have been ruled out.

 “I think so, yes,” Amorim said. We need a lot of things that have nothing to do with luck. [It] has to do with quality of the work.

“We need to [look at] every detail of the game. Our energy, my work with them has to be so much better. But sometimes, we need a little bit [of] luck. And today we have [got it]. It’s not luck because with VAR, [it] was not a goal.

“And I think it’s important to have because it’s fair for the game. It’s really hard to lose one game in the last minute with an offside play. But we need [it] and sometimes we deserve a little bit [of] luck.”

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