Ruud van Nistelrooy has only been interim manager at Manchester United for four days but has already proved a hit among the squad, with Red Devils stars reportedly 'desperate for him to stay on as assistant coach' under new boss Ruben Amorim.
The former United striker returned to Old Trafford in the summer as a member of Erik ten Hag's staff but, when the Dutchman was dismissed this week, van Nistelrooy stepped up as caretaker manager.
In his first game in the hot seat on Wednesday, the interim coach led the Red Devils to an entertaining 5-2 win over Leicester in the Carabao Cup which saw Bruno Fernandes bag a brace.
With Amorim confirmed as ten Hag's successor today, and the Portuguese set to arrive from Sporting Lisbon on November 11, speculation has been rife over whether van Nistelrooy will continue in his role as assistant.
And it seems the squad at Old Trafford are firmly in the camp crying for the 48-year-old to stay, The Sun reports.
A source told the paper: 'The players all really really want Ruud to stay on and have made their feelings clear internally that they believe he should remain at the club, even if and when Amorim takes over as boss.
'To a man, they all like him and get on with him and they also respect him because they know he undertands what it's like to play for United and the pressures that come with it.
'They are hopeful that he stays involved in the setup.'
Ahead of the cup tie with Leicester, van Nistelrooy expressed his 'mixed emotions' at the dismissal of ten Hag and his temporary role as head coach.
He said: 'Erik ten Hag brought me back to Manchester United in the summer and, while I have only been part of the coaching staff here for a few months, I will always be grateful to him for giving me the opportunity, and I am saddened to see him leave.
'Even on an interim basis, it is a great honour to manage the club I love for however long I am asked to do so. I promise that I will continue to give my all, in whatever capacity, to try and turn around our fortunes.
'Despite our results, I am loving being back at Old Trafford and working with the team and staff every day. We've seen the squad's potential at times this season, but clearly not often enough.
'Now is the time for everyone at the club to work together, give everything and turn this season around while we have time. From my experiences as both a player and a coach here, I can say for sure that when players, staff and supporters pull together, Manchester United can be unstoppable.'
Amorim was announced as the next Red Devils boss today after the club hierarchy acted quickly to secure a replacement for ten Hag.
The Portuguese will join on a two-and-a-half year deal, which the club can extend for a further 12 months, should they wish to do so.
Earlier this week Mail Sport revealed that Amorim, 39, had a notice period within his Sporting Lisbon contract.
Following negotiations United are understood to have paid one million euros on top of the £8.3m release clause to secure an early departure which will allow the new man to use the international break to familiarise himself with his surroundings before his first match in charge, which will be at Ipswich Town on November 24.
In the meantime, van Nistelrooy will oversee the visits of Chelsea and Leicester City, which sandwich a Europa League home fixture with PAOK.