Sportuk sportuk footballpremier league

EXCLUSIVE: Ruud Van Nistelrooy Says He 'Lost Control' With Sir Alex Ferguson

EXCLUSIVE: Ruud Van Nistelrooy Says He 'Lost Control' With Sir Alex Ferguson
Open Image Modal
By 

Football writer, The Manchester Evening News

|
Open Image Modal
Getty

Ruud van Nistelrooy admits he "lost control" when he swore at Sir Alex Ferguson during Manchester United's 2006 League Cup final win.

Van Nistelrooy was dropped to the substitutes' bench in favour of Louis Saha, who had scored five goals in four previous League Cup games, for United's 4-0 thrashing of Wigan.

"I CHERISH THOSE FIVE YEARS AT UNITED" - IN COMPANY WITH RUUD VAN NISTELROOY

Ferguson, who wrote in his book he Kieran Richardson and recent signings Nemanja Vidić and Patrice Evra to give them a "smell of winning something", was insulted by a jilted Van Nistelrooy.

Open Image Modal

Van Nistelrooy, sat on the Millennium Stadium bench before the substitutions were made

"After the third sub I just lost control and that wasn't supposed to happen, but it happened," Van Nistelrooy exclusively told HuffPost UK Sport.

"I actually went out for a warm-up and was really ready to come on. It was three or four-nil, the game was over, it wasn't like we had won five Leagues and three FA Cups at the time, it was one League (2002-03) there and an FA Cup (2003-04), so I was very proud to be part of that day as a League Cup final, to make some minutes and get my share in that final."

Although Van Nistelrooy collected his winners' medal, he decided to return to the dressing room earlier than his celebrating teammates, crestfallen at Ferguson's snub.

Van Nistelrooy and Ferguson
Dutch soccer player Ruud Van Nistelrooy (L) and Ma(01 of12)
Open Image Modal
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 27: Dutch soccer player Ruud Van Nistelrooy (L) and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson pose for media at Old Trafford in Manchester , 27 April 2001. Van Nistelrooy will be playing for the English side next year and is the most expensive player in the premier league with a pricetag of 19 million pounds (27 million dollars). AFP PHOTO:Martyn HARRISON (Photo credit should read MARTYN HARRISON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - FA Barclaycard Premiership - Charlton Athletic v Manchester United(02 of12)
Open Image Modal
Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson makes tactical changes as Ruud Van Nistelrooy prepares to enter the fray (credit:PA)
Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Alex Ferguson(03 of12)
Open Image Modal
BASEL - NOVEMBER 26: Ruud Van Nistelrooy of Man Utd is congratulated by Alex Ferguson as he is substituted during the FC Basel v Manchester United UEFA Champions League, Second phase match at St Jacob Park on November 26, 2002 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ruud Van Nistelrooy Awarded Golden Boot(04 of12)
Open Image Modal
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Ruud Van Nistelrooy of Man Utd is presented with the Barclaycard golden boot for last season by Sir Alex Ferguson during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford on August 16, 2003 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sir Alex Ferguson (L) and Ruud Van Nistelrooy look on(05 of12)
Open Image Modal
NEW YORK - JULY 29: Sir Alex Ferguson (L) and Ruud Van Nistelrooy look on during Manchester United training ahead of the Champions World Series game between Manchester United and Juventus on July 29, 2003 at The Giants Stadium in New Jersey, New York. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Aston Villa v Manchester United(06 of12)
Open Image Modal
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Ruud Van Nistelrooy of Manchester Unted celebrates in front of Sir Alex Ferguson after scoring the second goal for Manchester United during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park on May 15, 2004 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - FA Barclays Premiership - Manchester United v Charlton Athletic(07 of12)
Open Image Modal
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson congratulates Ruud van Nistelrooy (l) on his performance (credit:PA)
Fulham v Manchester United(08 of12)
Open Image Modal
LONDON - OCTOBER 01: Manchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson congratulates Ruud Van Nistelrooy for his two goal after he substituted him during the Barclays Premiership match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage on October 1, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United Training(09 of12)
Open Image Modal
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17 : Ruud Van Nistelrooy of Manchester United talks with Sir Alex Ferguson during training ahead of tomorrows UEFA Champions League match against Lille on October 17, 2005 at Carrington Training Ground in Manchester England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Charlton Athletic v Manchester United(10 of12)
Open Image Modal
LONDON - NOVEMBER 19: Ruud Van Nistelrooy (R) of Manchester United is congratulated by his manager Sir Alex Ferguson after being substituted during the Barclays Premiership match between Charlton Athletic and Manchester United at The Valley on November 19, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Rudd Van Nistelrooy (R) of Manchester Un(11 of12)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, United Kingdom: Rudd Van Nistelrooy (R) of Manchester United is congratulated by manager Sir Alex Ferguson (C) after he scored two goals against Charlton during their Premiership game at The Valley in London, 19 November 2005. Manchester United won the game 3-1. AFP PHOTO / JOHN D MCHUGH Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel : +44 207 298 1656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no licence is necessary. (Photo credit should read JOHN D MCHUGH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - FA Barclays Premiership - Wigan Athletic v Manchester United - The JJB Stadium(12 of12)
Open Image Modal
Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy waits to come on as manager Sir Alex Ferguson applauds (credit:PA)

Lauded by Ferguson as "one of United's greatest goalscorers", Van Nistelrooy struck 150 goals in 219 appearances between 2001 and 2006.

The Dutchman, now 37 and retired, reconciled with Ferguson during a telephone call in January 2010, and was invited to the former United manager's statue unveiling last year.

Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip