THE NOTEBOOK: Van Nistelrooy enjoys a cheerful reunion, history repeats itself
Manchester United's first Premier League game of the post-Erik ten Hag era ended with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday.
With incoming manager Ruben Amorim still yet to take the reins at Old Trafford, interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy led United for the first time in the league.
However, any hopes that the Dutchman's return to his former stomping ground would bring about an all-action affair were quickly quelled in an opening 45 minutes in which both teams lacked quality in the final third.
Bruno Fernandes gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot in the second-half but Chelsea responded through Moises Caicedo to secure a point.
Mail Sport's CHRIS WHEELER brings you the moments you may have missed from Old Trafford.
https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/5A/1A/720x-/-/-/CgAGVWcn8c6AerhwAAFyagj_KM0221.jpgUnited have a VIP in attendance at Old Trafford
Her hits include Traitor and Déjà Vu, and Chelsea fans could have been forgiven for asking what Olivia Rodrigo was doing showing off a Manchester United shirt at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The 21-year-old American pop star watched her first ever game of football at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea played Liverpool on the opening day of last season, and was pictured proudly holding a blue shirt with her name on the back.
On Sunday, she swapped it for United’s white away jersey after being presented with a personalised No 7. Rodrigo was at Old Trafford with her boyfriend, British actor Louis Partridge, and was seen posing for a picture with former United defender Denis Irwin.
Van Nistelrooy is reunited with former team-mate
Ruud van Nistelrooy's first Premier League game as United’s interim manager pitted him against his old Malaga team-mate Enzo Maresca.
The Dutchman reminisced with the Chelsea manager in the tunnel an hour before kick-off as they shared a few laughs and a warm embrace.
Malaga were Van Nistelrooy’s last club as a player, and the season that he and Maresca spent there remains one of the best in Los Boquerones’ history as they finished fourth in La Liga and qualified for the Champions League for the first time.
Amorim keeps his focus firmly on the task at hand
Did Ruben Amorim have a spy at this game as he prepares to take over as United manager on November 11? The simple answer is no.
Even though Sporting may well have had scouts at Bournemouth on Saturday see their Champions League opponents Manchester City suffer a shock defeat, it’s understood that Amorim is firmly focussed on Tuesday's game at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
History repeats itself as United's dismal start continues
The outcome of this game really shouldn’t have come as any surprise seeing as United-Chelsea is the most drawn fixture in Premier League history. No fewer than 27 of 65 meetings have now ended all square.
United’s total of 12 points from 10 games is their lowest at this stage of the season since Ron Atkinson was sacked in 1986 and Alex Ferguson appointed after 13 games of the campaign.