Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoyed a winning start as Manchester United’s interim manager as his side thrashed Leicester to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
2024/2025 League Cup
5-2
Two days after Van Nistelrooy was appointed as stand-in following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag, his pre-match demand for entertainment was met in full.
Casemiro started the fun with a sensational long-range strike and by half-time the Brazilian had another as he followed up an initial header that bounced off both posts by driving home from eight yards.
In between those efforts, Alejandro Garnacho fired home his fifth goal of the season and skipper Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick deflected in off Leicester full-back James Justin.
It wasn’t perfect from the hosts as old defensive frailties returned to allow Bilal El Khannouss and Conor Coady to score before half-time. The latter effort came after the ball had struck Diogo Dalot and bounced invitingly for the former England man to apply the first-time finish.
But in front of Sir Alex Ferguson, back at Old Trafford for the first time since being told he was being stripped of his paid ambassadorial role, and United’s powerbrokers who are aiming to replace Ten Hag with Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, the hosts always had an element of control.
Fernandes added a fifth on 59 minutes when he took maximum advantage of Caleb Okoli’s under-hit backpass.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
0' Highlight from Man Utd vs Leicester
9' Jordan Ayew right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved!
15' GOAL! Superb 25-yard strike by Casemiro gives Devils lead! Man Utd 1-0 Leicester
20' Match Event for Man Utd vs Leicester
28' GOAL! Garnacho scores with a cross from Diogo Dalot! Man Utd 2-0 Leicester
33' GOAL! Man Utd 2-1 Leicester (Bilal El Khannouss)
36' GOAL! Bruno's free kick takes a deflection and goes in! Man Utd 3-1 Leicester
39' GOAL! Casemiro has scored a brace within 24 minutes! Man Utd 4-1 Leicester
42' Almost hat-trick! Casemiro's header from centre of the box misses to the right!
43' Garnacho right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high!
48' GOAL! Man Utd 4-2 Leicester (Conor Coady)
48' Match Event for Man Utd vs Leicester
57' Joshua Zirkzee right footed shot from outside the box is saved!
59' GOAL! Bruno Fernandes' double brings the total to five! Man Utd 5-2 Leicester
62' Noussair Mazraoui replaces Lisandro Martínez! Amad Diallo replaces Rashford!
65' Diallo's left-footed shot from center of the box is high and wide to the left!
66' Boubakary Soumaré's shot saved top center of the goal!
73' Amad Diallo's shot from outside the box is saved!
73' Match Event for Man Utd vs Leicester
76' Will Alves right footed shot from outside box is saved in centre of the goal!
82' Highlight from Man Utd vs Leicester
83' Match Event for Man Utd vs Leicester
84' Match Event for Man Utd vs Leicester
Line-ups
Man Utd XI: Casemiro, Lindelof, Bruno Fernandes, Altay Bayindir, De Ligt, Dalot, Rashford, Manuel Ugarte, Martinez, Joshua Zirkzee, Alejandro Garnacho
Subs: Heaton, Evans, Mazraoui, Amad Diallo Traore, Rasmus Højlund, Jack Fletcher, Ethan Wheatley, Jayce Fitzgerald, Harry Amass
Leicester XI: Jordan Ayew, Ward, Coady, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Justin, Skipp, Soumaré, Luke Thomas, Okoli, Kasey McAteer, Bilal El Khannouss
Subs: Vestergaard, Pereira, Winks, Ndidi, Daniel Iversen, Mavididi, Odsonne Edouard, Will Alves, Facundo Buonanotte