SIR Alex Ferguson insists has no regrets about keeping Ruud van Nistelrooy on the bench until the last half-hour of last night's AC Milan clash.
The experience of Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini kept Wayne Rooney quiet for most of the game, but Ferguson felt the ocassion was not right for Van Nistelrooy to return from his Achilles injury.
He said: "He (Van Nistelrooy) hasn't played since November - and although it would have been fair to bring him into a league game, it was not for a European game of that quality and tempo. I think we did the right thing."
Van Nistelrooy replaced a disgruntled Cristiano Ronaldo, but Ferguson had no problem with the youngster's reaction.
He said: "Cristiano did fine and is progressing all the time - and, of course, he was disappointed to come off. Who wants to come off in a big game?
"I wanted to keep as many goalscorers on the pitch as possible, Ryan Giggs has a great record in Europe, and Wayne Rooney shows all the time that he can score in big matches."
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was in charge of Juventus in 1999 when United overcame them in Turin, and the memory makes him wary of the Reds' threat in the second leg.
He said: "I have to say I remember extremely well what happened last time - but let's just say it's better not to dwell on that.
"Of course, we are really pleased with this result - and it's a very important victory. But by the same token, we are just aware this is only the first half, and the second half is yet to come.
"There's no doubt we can play better - in the second half especially we got some of our passes wrong - but we can be fairly pleased with the way things have gone so far.
"We played Manchester United well; we gave them few opportunities and we tried to prevent them from developing attacks.
"But I think Manchester United still have legitimate hope and claims to win the Champions League - as do we and the other big clubs left in the competition."
Ruud van Nistelrooy returns to the Manchester United squad for the first time in three months on Saturday as the Red Devils look to secure a place in the last eight of the FA Cup.
After returning to training on Tuesday, van Nistelrooy has suffered no reaction to the Achilles problem which has ruled him out since the November win over West Brom.
Sir Alex Ferguson will now decide whether to play the prolific Dutchman against the Toffees, start with him on the bench, or leave him out altogether in readiness for Wednesday's encounter with AC Milan in the Champions League.
Alan Smith and Louis Saha are also included, along with Wayne Rooney, who is preparing for his first trip back to Goodison Park since his £27million move to United in August.
Manchester United face Manchester City on Sunday buoyed by news that injured striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is on course to return in time for the Champions League clash with AC Milan later this month.
The 28-year-old Dutchman has been sidelined for three months because of an Achilles injury and the last 16 tie with Milan has been pencilled in for his return.
"Alan Smith starts training on Monday, while Ruud van Nistelrooy starts training on Tuesday," said United boss Alex Ferguson.
"It is good to have them both back. In fact, its terrific to have them back. Well assess their fitness as the week goes on."
Meanwhile, United have been given a huge boost ahead of Sunday's derby with news that Roy Keane (knee), Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand (both hamstring) have all recovered from injuries that kept them out of international action this week.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo is a doubt due to a heavy challenge from Damien Duff in the international friendly between Ireland and Portugal.
"It was a bad tackle from Duff," Ferguson told the United website www.manutd.com.
"I was surprised because he is not usually that type of player. Rio, Ryan and Roy are OK for Sunday, but Cristiano is certainly doubtful."
United have taken 38 points from a possible 42 in their last 14 matches as they try to rein in runaway Premiership leaders Chelsea who have a nine-point advantage.
"You get used to dealing with the international matches," said Ferguson.
"There is nothing you can do about it. It is an unfortunate part of the job. You hope it doesn't stop the momentum we have built up over the last few months. But I am confident. If you are going into a derby game, you want to be in good confidence and form. At the moment we have got that.
Manchester United face Manchester City on Sunday buoyed by news that injured striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is on course to return in time for the Champions League clash with AC Milan later this month.
The 28-year-old Dutchman has been sidelined for three months because of an Achilles injury and the last 16 tie with Milan has been pencilled in for his return.
"Alan Smith starts training on Monday, while Ruud van Nistelrooy starts training on Tuesday," said United boss Alex Ferguson.
"It is good to have them both back. In fact, its terrific to have them back. Well assess their fitness as the week goes on."
Meanwhile, United have been given a huge boost ahead of Sunday's derby with news that Roy Keane (knee), Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand (both hamstring) have all recovered from injuries that kept them out of international action this week.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo is a doubt due to a heavy challenge from Damien Duff in the international friendly between Ireland and Portugal.
"It was a bad tackle from Duff," Ferguson told the United website www.manutd.com.
"I was surprised because he is not usually that type of player. Rio, Ryan and Roy are OK for Sunday, but Cristiano is certainly doubtful."
United have taken 38 points from a possible 42 in their last 14 matches as they try to rein in runaway Premiership leaders Chelsea who have a nine-point advantage.
"You get used to dealing with the international matches," said Ferguson.
"There is nothing you can do about it. It is an unfortunate part of the job. You hope it doesn't stop the momentum we have built up over the last few months. But I am confident. If you are going into a derby game, you want to be in good confidence and form. At the moment we have got that.
Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted he would have no worries about throwing Ruud van Nistelrooy straight into Manchester United's Champions League clash with AC Milan.
The striker is at home in Holland recovering from the Achilles injury that has ruled him out since the end of November.
Ferguson has insisted the 28-year-old's recuperation is going well and has earmarked Milan's Old Trafford visit on February 23 as a possible return date.
The United boss acknowledges throwing most players into such a ferocious confrontation after so long on the sidelines would be a major risk but given van Nistelrooy's phenomenal European record of 36 goals in 37 appearances for the Red Devils it is understandable why he would want the Dutchman in his side.
And Ferguson is sure van Nistelrooy can handle the pressure.
"I would not be fazed about putting Ruud straight in the team for the AC Milan game," said the United chief.
"The way he plays his football, he would be ideal for that kind of match and the adrenalin would help him anyway."
Ferguson adopted the same approach with Rio Ferdinand's return in September, although the obvious difference was that the defender was not injured having been banned for eight months over his missed drugs test.
The Old Trafford outfit have made light of van Nistelrooy's unavailability, collecting an impressive 20 points from a possible 24 in the Premiership.
But even with Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and Alan Smith to call on, Ferguson admits van Nistelrooy has been missed.
"When you look at Ruud's goals record, it must be a miss not to have him there," he said.
"We want him back but he is in a remedial programme at the moment so we can't have him.
"We are coping without him. The form recently has been excellent and we have been positive in everything we have done."
FERGUSON: NO REGRETS OVER RUUD
Previous Page •
Print this page
