Van Nistelrooy urges Man Utd stars to follow Ferguson's golden rule vs Chelsea

Ruud van Nistelrooy has ordered his players to live by a golden rule set in motion by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

The Dutchman continues his interim spell in charge of United as they host Chelsea on Sunday afternoon before Ruben Amorim arrives from Sporting Lisbon on November 11.

While Amorim will become United's seventh manager since Sir Alex retired in 2013, Van Nistelrooy does not want his stars to lose sight of the Scot's key message.

That demand comes despite Ferguson, 82, being chopped from his £2million-per-year ambassador role with the club amid Sir Jim Ratcliffe's cost-cutting regime.

'Ferguson said: "No one is bigger than the club,"' began Van Nistelrooy.

'Anyone can shout it. But if you then, as Ferguson did, give substance to your own words with every decision, every choice, it becomes different.

'Then players know: "This is how it works here." Take the interaction with supporters. Always thanking people after a game, good or bad.

'Or at hotels where we come and where there are fans. Just handing out an autograph. Take a photo.

'Ferguson demanded us at the time to take time for that. I'm back there myself now. And I encourage it in players. Do I think it's an example of an important cultural thing? Yes.

'He is present at every home game. That's when we run into each other.

'He also came to watch Rangers when I coached PSV Eindhoven in Glasgow in the Champions League in 2022. I really appreciated that.

'Ferguson also openly states how nice it is that I am back. How good he thinks that is. That's nice.

'This man has coloured a very important part of my football life. I was able to achieve my achievements at United partly because of him. He motivated, inspired, guided me through that period.'

Van Nistelrooy won his first interim match 5-2 over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup last 16 in midweek, standing in after Erik ten Hag was sacked with United 14th in the Premier League.

The Red Devils have not won the Premier League title since Ferguson stepped away and Amorim, who has won two Portuguese crowns with Sporting Lisbon, will hope he does not end up on the scraphead like others who have followed the icon.

He still has to see out a notice period with Sporting, who are top of the table with 10 wins from 10 - an encouraging sign for the Old Trafford faithful.

The 39-year-old has penned a two-and-a-half year deal after United triggered his £8.3million release clause.