‘A Fantastic Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On FA Cup Clash

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‘A Fantastic Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On FA Cup Clash

Ruud van Nistelrooy described the Emirates FA Cup as a ‘privilege’ to be involved in, ahead of facing Manchester United in round four.

2025-02-07T07:00+00:00

by Sam Jones

Published

07 Feb, 2025

‘A Fantastic Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On FA Cup Clash

Ruud van Nistelrooy described the Emirates FA Cup as a ‘privilege’ to be involved in, ahead of facing Manchester United in round four.

Sam Jones

2025-02-07T07:00+00:00

‘A Fantastic Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On FA Cup Clash

Ruud van Nistelrooy described the Emirates FA Cup as a ‘privilege’ to be involved in, ahead of facing Manchester United in round four.

Sam Jones

2025-02-07T07:00+00:00

‘A Fantastic Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On FA Cup Clash

Ruud van Nistelrooy described the Emirates FA Cup as a ‘privilege’ to be involved in, ahead of facing Manchester United in round four.

Sam Jones

2025-02-07T07:00+00:00

‘A Fantastic Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On FA Cup Clash

Ruud van Nistelrooy described the Emirates FA Cup as a ‘privilege’ to be involved in, ahead of facing Manchester United in round four.

Sam Jones

2025-02-07T07:00+00:00

The oldest domestic cup competition in the world continues on Friday evening, with the Dutchman leading the Foxes to Old Trafford, attempting to reach the fifth round against his former club.

Prior to travelling up to Manchester, City’s Manager sat down with the media to assess recent form and the opportunity awaiting his side this weekend.

‘About work and mindset’

Not the result anyone wanted at Goodison Park.

Putting to bed the defeat at Everton last time out, there is a requirement to become more consistent, van Nistelrooy explained, whether in training or on a matchday, in order to improve.

“Of course, there’s disappointment on the game, which we didn’t see coming after the Spurs performance,” the 48-year-old told reporters inside LCFC Training Ground. “It was painful and very disappointing.

“We evaluated, we went through the game with the players and where we have to improve and then we got back to work again, so that's what happened. Everybody knows that if you start a game like that in the Premier League, being 2-0 down in six minutes, you’re going to give yourself an impossible task almost.

“It didn’t happen so far in the season that we had a start like this. Overall, we’ve had good starts in games, but this was a bad one. We’ve seen in the spell that I’ve been here, we’ve shown what we’re capable of during games.

“We’ve reached a high level at times off the ball, on the ball, but the consistency is still failing but you can see it game to game. It’s not a button you can switch on or off, it’s about work and mindset. The Spurs performance, you see a certain level we can reach as a team and the next week it is nowhere near that. It’s consistency.

“It’s lifestyle, it’s mindset, it’s using everything in this building to become a better footballer. The day-to-day standards have to improve to be more consistent. That’s my job and how you should live on and off the pitch.

“I’m sharing that every day. Those standards are part of me. Every day I’m telling people this is the standard or this isn’t and if everyone lives to those, we still have time and I believe that we can do that.”

‘Start with a clean mind’

Wout Faes was among the goalscorers against the Hoops.

While positive results have been hard to come by in the league, the third round saw us score six against Queens Park Rangers and now attention has turned back to the cup, there is no shortage of motivation to progress.

“It’s always welcome,” he continued. “We have enough time to recover and to prepare for the game, so we’ll do absolutely everything possible to be at our best and it’s never a distraction.

“The FA Cup, to be represented in it, is a privilege. We want to show what we’re about in a fantastic game away at Old Trafford. These games are more than welcome. Every game you do well and perform you can add something to it and the game that doesn’t go well, you recover.

“After Spurs, you win and all of a sudden, it’s not a guarantee you keep winning. We lost seven in a row and it’s not a guarantee that you lose again. You get on with it and start with a clean mind for the next one.

“We have to show what we’re about in the approach of the game; the mentality and fight and spirit and the reaction that we are willing to deliver tomorrow evening.”

‘It’s special’

The striker won one and lost one FA Cup Final during his playing time at Man Utd.

Given his history with the Red Devils, it will be a unique occasion for van Nistelrooy, returning for the first time since his stint as interim manager earlier this season, while also carrying memories from winning the competition. However, there will be no room for sentiment come Friday night.

“I have good memories there, to be able to win a final,” the former PSV manager recalled. “The (FA Cup winners) medal is in my home in the Netherlands and is there forever. It’s something I desire and something I’m proud of.

“It’s special to go back. I have history as a player, an assistant manager and a caretaker manager. That is part of me and always will be but for tomorrow the focus is on my players and my team to get the best out of them possible and perform.

“I’m focused on performing and preparing the team to be at their best and preparing in the best way possible in any part of the game and that the players go out there and do it and that they are together in how they work.

“The FA Cup is a great stage to show what you’re about. These are occasions where you can give opportunities for players. Of course, we analyse them and see where the possibilities are for us and where we need to be careful.

“That’s where the focus is for us and that’s all I’m doing at the moment. We have to look at us and you can always win a game. Away to Manchester United is always a tough one and we want to represent ourselves as well as possible.”

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