Four players from Erik ten Hag’s final Manchester United starting lineup did not make Ruud van Nistelrooy’s starting lineup as interim manager, including Andre Onana.
Even though interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy gave Andre Onana a night off on Wednesday, he showed his commitment by going onto the field to help his fellow goalkeepers warm up. Four players from Erik ten Hag’s final United XI were left out of Van Nistelrooy’s starting lineup, including Onana, the first-choice custodian. Onana and Christian Eriksen did not make the matchday roster, although Rasmus Hojlund and Noussair Mazraoui were substitutes in a 5-2 victory over Leicester City.
Tom Heaton, a seasoned veteran, was the backup goalie for Altay Bayindir, who started against Leicester. Even though Bayindir just made his second start of the season, he had some shaky moments, but Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes each scored two goals to help United win. Few people would have criticised Onana for having a night off, considering his almost constant presence since joining United in 2023. But the Cameroon international was there, getting Bayindir and Heaton ready for action as they were being prepped for the match.
On Wednesday, most of the goals at Old Trafford were scored prior to halftime. Bilal El Khannouss and Conor Coady scored for the visiting club, while Alejandro Garnacho and captain Fernandes also contributed to Casemiro’s two goals before halftime.
Just before the sixty-minute mark, Fernandes scored his second goal of the night, taking advantage of a misdirected backpass to slickly sidestep goalie Danny Ward and finish with ruthlessness. The goal completed United’s remarkable run to 12 goals in two Carabao Cup games after their thumping of Barnsley in the previous round. After Ange Postecoglou’s team defeated a youthful Manchester City team on Wednesday, Tottenham will be the next opponent in the quarterfinals. Given that Onana played in both of United’s games during the previous season’s competition, it is unclear if he will play in the December encounter.
Following Ten Hag’s departure, Van Nistelrooy made his management debut for United against Leicester, his first time serving as interim manager. Van Nistelrooy compared his first game to Ten Hag’s last, even though it might not be his only time managing the team, since Ruben Amorim is expected to take over after the international break.
