Manchester United face Leicester City in the Premier League at the King Power Stadium on Sunday night.
It has been a challenging season with Manchester United languishing in 14th place, having only managed nine wins from 28 Premier League matches since the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign.
Ruben Amorim arrived in November and never experienced a ‘new manager bounce’, although momentum has lifted since United beat Real Sociedad 4-1 on Thursday night to secure a place in the Europa League quarter-finals.
It may be Europe’s second-rate competition but it means United have something to play for between now and May.
Moreover, winning the Europa League is Amorim’s only chance of competing in the Champions League with this team next season since United’s first-team trails the Premier League top four by 15 points.
Relegation struggles Leicester City will welcome United to the King Power Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off for the match scheduled for 7 pm UK time.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side are winless in their last five Premier League matches and they’re six points adrift from safety.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
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Van Nistelrooy believes Manchester United are improving
It has been a dire season for Manchester United as well as Leicester City and Van Nistelrooy has experienced both situations since returning to England last summer.
The 48-year-old joined Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff at the beginning of the season and became interim manager when Ineos decided it was time for managerial change.
Amorim’s arrival meant Van Nistelrooy would also move on and Leicester were quick to hire the legendary goalscorer.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday’s league meeting, Van Nistelrooy stated the Reds are in a “better place” than when United previously beat Leicester 2-1 in February. That is a suggestion that Amorim’s methods are being implemented slowly but surely.
“It’s a great boost [for them] they are in the quarter-finals of the Europa League,” said Van Nistelrooy during his press conference on Friday.
“Bruno [Fernandes] is in great form, so he is very decisive in that team. It’s a team which has some momentum going, so they are in a better place than when we played them in the FA Cup.”
Since knocking Leicester out of the FA Cup that day, United have gone on to lose once in the Premier League and reach the Europa League quarter-finals.
It’s a crucial game for Leicester because they can’t afford many more defeats or results elsewhere going against them.
Bruno Fernandes stats vs Leicester City
It won’t come as a surprise that Van Nistelrooy singled out Bruno Fernandes for praise ahead of the match.
The former Netherlands international saw up close how key he is to United’s first-team and his form in recent weeks has been second to none, despite facing strong criticism from club legend Roy Keane.
Van Nistelrooy will also look at Fernandes’ impressive record against Leicester City since signing for United in 2020.
Games Goals Assists
11 5 6
Bruno Fernandes stats vs Leicester City
The Portugal international has recorded 11 goal contributions from as many games against the Foxes across multiple competitions.