Ruud van Nistelrooy isn’t afraid of criticism from his ex-Man United team-mates in the media ahead of his first Premier League tie – and tips one struggling summer signing to become a Red Devils star

Ruud van Nistelrooy expects criticism from former Manchester United team-mates on television should he lose his first Premier League game as interim manager to Chelsea on Sunday.

Gary Neville heads a cohort of ex-United stars including Roy Keane and Paul Scholes who now make their living as pundits and have laid into successive Old Trafford managers including Erik ten Hag who was sacked last week.

Van Nistelrooy, who is holding the fort until Ruben Amorim arrives from Portugal, says he’s relaxed about his old colleagues offering their opinion.

‘There are quite a few,’ he noted. ‘We all do our jobs and basically they care for the club.

‘They are disappointed if it doesn’t go well and have opinions on that. I think it is absolutely fine and don’t take it personally.

Van Nistelrooy worked as assistant manager to Erik ten Hag before Man United sacked him

Back in their playing days, Van Nistelrooy and Gary Neville (left) were team-mates at United 

‘When I see them and have a cup of coffee, I have no problems. I appreciate them as former colleagues.

‘That’s the path some of them choose so for me it is absolutely fine.’

Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals for United between 2001 and 2006 but isn’t looking for special favours.

‘In the end you are gonna be judged,’ he added. ‘After Wednesday (beating Leicester 5-2 in the Carabao Cup), the reaction was very positive. In football things can change or it can continue. I don’t believe the hype or the drama that much.’

Van Nistelrooy rejoined United in the summer to assist ten Hag and says he is open to continuing at Old Trafford under the new regime if they want him.

Neville now works as a pundit for Sky Sports and will be tasked with analysing Van Nistelrooy

Ex-captain Roy Keane is another former Man United player who regularly works for Sky Sports

Keane pictured in 2002 jumping on Van Nistelrooy’s back during a Champions League match

Significantly, he selected £42million Manuel Ugarte against Leicester after the Uruguayan midfielder had been sparingly used by ten Hag.

‘I am convinced Manuel will be a great player for United,’ said the Dutchman. ‘He has very specific qualities in midfield where he gets in between players, recovers a lot of balls. He is also very decent on the ball.

‘We are very thin in midfield so we are definitely going to need him in the coming games.’