Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes scored two goals each as Manchester United reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a breathless 5-2 win over Leicester City on Wednesday, their first match since the sacking of manager Erik ten Hag.

United’s interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy had promised excitement and goals in his first game in charge, and his players did not disappoint.

Casemiro opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he struck into the top corner from 20 yards and Alejandro Garnacho doubled the lead when he fired a shot into the roof of the net from Diogo Dalot’s cross.

Leicester’s Bilal El Khannouss pulled a goal back but Fernandes restored United’s two-goal lead when his free-kick hit a player in the wall and ended up in the net.

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On a night when delighted home fans chanted “Shoot!” shouted. Every time a United player was anywhere near the Leicester net, Casemiro completed his brace in the 39th minute when he headed the ball against the post before smashing in the rebound.

Conor Coady pulled one back for Leicester in first-half stoppage time, but the visitors’ hopes were short-lived when Fernandes grabbed a back pass, dribbled around the keeper and scored his second in the 59th minute.

The scoreline could have been even more lopsided as United’s trio of goalscorers all had narrow misses, and Amad Diallo left fans gasping when he sent an overhead kick just wide of the target in the second half.

United fans sang Van Nistelrooy’s name as he approached Stretford End to cheer their efforts after the final whistle.

Ten Hag was sacked on Monday as the team languished in 14th place in the Premier League standings, just one place and two points ahead of Leicester.

United are six-time League Cup winners, the last of which lifted the trophy in the 2022/2023 season with Ten Hag at the helm.

They resume their Premier League campaign at home to Chelsea on Sunday.