Enzo Maresca sends message to ‘friend’ Ruud van Nistelrooy ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Manchester United

Enzo Maresca says he is ‘happy’ for Manchester United’s newly appointed interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and looking forward to catching up with his old ‘friend’ when Chelsea travel to Old Trafford this weekend.

United relieved Erik ten Hag of his duties after a dismal run of results at this early stage of the season and Van Nistelrooy has taken over the reins while the club consider their options.

The first major challenge for Van Nistelrooy in the role comes tomorrow night when the Red Devils take on Leicester City for a place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

In the wake of Ten Hag’s dismissal, Ruben Amorim has emerged as the clear frontrunner to be appointed as Ten Hag’s permanent successor, with Sporting confirming United’s intention to pay the Portuguese’s €10million (£8.3m) release clause in full this afternoon.

However, speaking after Sporting’s 3-0 win over Famalicao, Amorim insisted nothing was decided over his future and everything would become clear in due course.

Maresca refused to discuss the speculation surrounding Amorim while facing the media but opened up on the prospect of locking horns on the touchline with Van Nistelrooy, who managed PSV Eindhoven up until May of last year.

‘He’s a friend of mine. We played together. We spent time together in Malaga. We have still relations. So I think it would be Ruud,’ told reporters.

‘We have started to watch some PSV games. Unfortunately, we had already watched many Man United games.

‘At the moment, I’m sad for Erik. But at the same time, I’m happy for Ruud.

‘As I said, he’s a friend of mine. Hopefully, I can see him on Sunday. I’m starting to watch PSV games.’

Chelsea sit fifth in the Premier League table after a promising start to the season under Maresca, with the Italian working to ‘build something different’ after years of upheaval and disappointment at Stamford Bridge.

‘The club never mentioned to me about top four. They always said the target is to build something important for the next four, five years,’ he added.

‘For sure we’re working every day to build something important. Could it be a pressure for the players? I don’t think so, because if you go game by game you can see yourself where you are in that moment.

‘If you start to think about top four or top six, you’re thinking about May, June. For me it’s too far.’

Ahead of their trip to Old Trafford, Chelsea face off against Newcastle in an intriguing Carabao Cup last-16 clash at St James’ Park.

The Blues got the better of Newcastle just two days ago in the Premier League, with Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer getting on the scoresheet, and Maresca is hoping for a similar outcome on Wednesday evening.

After remaining on the bench for Chelsea’s last two games due to ‘tactical reasons’, Jadon Sancho – who joined on loan from Manchester United – will no doubt be desperate for a start in the north east.

‘In the last two games he didn’t play for tactical decisions. No more than that,’ Maresca explained.

‘Sancho is doing well since he arrived. Players can’t maintain the same level all season.

‘He’s going to play many games, he has to continue to work hard.’

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