Following the FA Cup victory, Erik ten Hag's position at Manchester United was precarious, and his eventual sacking was not a surprise. The club has wasted no time in seeking a permanent replacement, with Ruben Amorim from Sporting CP being the top candidate.
Amorim is set to clarify his future after Sporting's league match on Friday, but it's almost certain that Van Nistelrooy, who led the team to a 5-2 victory over Leicester City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, will be at the helm when Chelsea comes to visit on Sunday.
Manchester United's home matches against other top-tier teams this season have been disappointing under Ten Hag, with losses to both Liverpool and Tottenham by a 3-0 margin.
Will the team's performance change with Ten Hag's departure?
What can we anticipate?
United has an impressive record against Chelsea at home, remaining unbeaten in their last 11 league games (W5 D6), and they are aiming for a third consecutive win against the Blues at Old Trafford for the first time since 1957.
However, United has only accumulated 11 points after nine Premier League games this season (W3 D2 L4), marking their second-lowest total at this stage, only surpassed by the 2019-20 season when they had 10 points.
United has only lost four of their opening nine Premier League games on two occasions, both under Ten Hag in the last two seasons.
The last encounter between these teams in April saw Chelsea win a thrilling match 4-3 at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea last won three consecutive league games against United in March 2011.
United vs Chelsea is the most drawn fixture in Premier League history, with 26 of the 64 previous meetings ending in a draw, and the Opta supercomputer predicts a close match this time around.
In 37.8% of the model's simulations, United wins. Chelsea wins in 37.3%, with a draw probability of 24.9%.
A New Dawn
Ten Hag's Premier League record at United is a 32% loss rate (27/85), which is the joint-highest percentage along with David Moyes (11/34).
Of his 27 defeats, 26% came via stoppage-time goals, the highest percentage of any manager to lose 20+ games in Premier League history.
While Amorim is expected to join soon, Van Nistelrooy has the opportunity to bring back a positive vibe to Old Trafford. United, currently 14th in the standings, is in desperate need of a win.
Their recent five-goal performance was a much-needed morale booster, especially considering their struggles with converting chances.
Only Southampton and Crystal Palace have scored fewer Premier League goals this season than United (eight).
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