June 2004
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Happy at United |
Every morning when you read newspaper or switch on the television and you read and hear that you're off to Barcelona or Real Madrid.
I don't read the papers anymore. It just goes on and on. I don't know where these rumours are coming from. Probably from Spain because in England I held a press conference. I was so tired of it that I sat down with Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane. We gave a press conference. I sat there specially to clear up all the rumours. I didn't care because I knew the rumours were not true. The manager and the players know this, but supporters were getting unsettled. I made it clear that I'm staying at Manchester United. The supporters thought I would let the club down. If I ordered a pizza they would write a message at the inside of the box. They begged me to stay, that was upsetting for me because I wasn't planning to leave. I have extended my contract until 2008 and I'm happy with that and the club is happy with it. So why would I leave?
Is a return of David Beckham to Manchester United a possibility or is it out of the question?
I don't think he would even want to come back to Manchester, Real Madrid has had a bad season. For him it will be a reason to stay. He wants to win there, and doesn't want to leave like a loser. I can understand Chelsea making a bid on him, but nevertheless I think he'll stay in Spain. He won't let himself be sent away. It isn't a disaster for Manchester United. Bryan Robson and Eric Cantona has also left which new players came in. This club is bigger than any player. If I'm not good enough anymore I will then be replaced. I shouldn't complain about that, that's reality. You shake some hands and you move on, that time comes for everyone.
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Becks and Ruud |
Have you missed the crosses of Beckham this season?
For a striker his crosses were a pleasure. At Real Madrid he's playing a central role. I think he has grown as a footballer and I think he would rather play at that position. He has a lot more options now. He can open to the left or to the right, pass Ronaldo balls and has the opportunity to move further in to the box which Ronaldo can hugely profit from that. David Beckham is gone, Roy Keane was injured for a while and Rio Ferdinand was suspended. Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs...and you have not been able to cope with the losses. It was difficult. We lost the balance in our squad. That of course has to do with the quality of Beckham, Keane and Ferdinand. The manager had to play a lot of young players. There's a lot of talent walking around but you have to bring them in carefully. They had to go straight to work. That was a problem.
Do you really think Cristiano Ronaldo is a great talent? His moves seem so unnecessary I don't think he's effective as a footballer.
Ronaldo is really a big talent and I see that everyday at training. He has to become more effective, he knows that. That show element is locked up in him. He loves to play beautiful football, but you can't always do that. A lot of times the cross comes too late and I have a defender near me. But he's working hard at it and it's getting better and better.
Aren't there a lot of average footballers walking around at club like Manchester United?
Arsenal and Chelsea have a huge selection of star players. The manager here is building a new team. He has chosen for young talents and not for mega stars. I'm sure it will be a strong squad next season. There will be some adjustments, but Alex Ferguson has loads of experience. He knows exactly what he has to do. When I first came here we didn't win anything and a year later we had a winning team. I have the greatest of confidence in the manager. Just look at his record.
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Sir Alex Ferguson |
Before you signed the contract with the club did you ask the manager about the future of Manchester United?
Yes it didn't go just about money. The manager has explained his plans to me. What he's planning and what his goals are. His plans satisfied me. Then it was very simple. The next day I signed my contract. A new squad is being built, which is supposed to win the Champions League. I want to be part of that. When my contract expires I'm 32. I want to serve these 4 years. Manchester United has become my club. We feel at home here, we are happy here we don't need to move to Spain. Ferguson is building on his third Squad and I want to be part of that, I want to work with him on that.
Can I see you staying here as a trainer or manager?
No I don't want that. If I stop I'll quit from football all together. I think it's wonderful. I don't think I'll be moving to another club. When I left PSV I was convinced that I would return. But I have my doubts now. I'll be 32 years old then and people expect miracles from you. Further, I also miss the respect in Holland. England is a relief. I'm not happy when I see the news in Holland. I'd pass being insulted every week for a "Kankerlijer" (Cancer sufferer) or "hoerenjong" (son of a prostitute). I detest that mentality. That's why I'm thinking about stopping in 2008.
Despite the disappointing season Alex Ferguson has had little criticism.
I don't think that's strange. He has done a excellent job here. You can't expect him to become a Champion every season. There has to be a less successful season at some point. The club has given him a lot of credit for everything he has achieved here.
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FA Cup Victory |
Does the FA cup mean a big price after all for Manchester United?
Absolutely. Don't be mistaken about that. The FA cup is in England is as important as the title. The final is broadcasted to all the corners of the world. The whole of England has lived up to this final, you see all the attention in the media increasing every day. It's the match of the year for us, the FA cup stands for tradition. It was the last chance for us to make this a winning season for us and the FA cup is truly a great price to win.
You have missed a few games. There was some speculation that you may have a problem with you're knee again.
I heard Jan Mulder (a guy on a Dutch TV show) speak out on television that he was concerned about me. I don't know were he got that sudden wisdom from. I didn't have a knee injury I had a bruised thigh. Against Arsenal I injured my knee. And against Charlton Athletic I played again, but I got a kick against my thigh, so that's why I had to sit out a few matches. So there's nothing wrong now. It's a strange experience when you're in front of the television knowing you're fit and then hearing you're seriously injured.
Manchester United is constantly on the move because now they are going to rebuild Old Trafford.
That's what makes it so interesting; I want to be part of that. Manchester United is a huge name. You can't imagine how big the club is. I have never seen a empty seat in the the stadium. Now the corners of the stadium are going to be rebuilt and 75.000 people will be able to visit the stadium. And there are other plans ready to rebuild the stadium so a 100.000 people can enter old Trafford. The club is amazingly popular, but the people who don't support United really hate the club. Anything but United, that's what they say.
Are Arsenal the rightful champions of England?
Absolutely Arsenal has a good playing squad. We won the cup match but Arsenal remained unbeaten the whole season. Then you are rightfully champions. Last season Arsenal were champions but then Arsène Wenger that the best team didn’t become champion, what bull ****! A Big club should be willing to congratulate a other with their success. Ferguson has congratulated Arsenal with their championship. And that’s how it should be. Chelsea ended second that was a excellent achievement. The players of Chelsea got a standing ovation from the fans. That’s real class. Ronaldo scored three times in old Trafford against us and when he got substituted he got a huge applause from our supporters. He really didn’t know what happened. If you watch the television and listen to the chants the Dutch fans are singing, it will make me angry.
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Mateja Kezman |
Do you feel sorry for Mateja Kezman?
The chants that they were singing about him were uncivilised. But I'm sick and tired of hearing about Mateja Kezman. I saw him after PSV got knocked out by Newcastle United on television. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. What he was pulling. I was furious. He pleaded himself free and gave his team-mates the blame for the defeat. I would never stand for that. A real man should say that in the dressing room but you don’t give the blame to players on television. PSV in my opinion reacted way too soft on him. If he would say something like that about Guus Hiddink then something would have been done, I'm sure of it.
Will Chelsea also become serious competition for Manchester United?
Chelsea already is. I respect them a lot. They are trying to buy a winning team and it looks to be possible. You play football to win and that’s why you have to respect Chelsea methods. Historically seen a built up team is always better, but Chelsea needs fast success. So buying is the best method to do so. I think the manager Claudio Ranieri has done a super job at Chelsea. He got a new star player every week He survived and the team played good football. I think that’s great and he deserves respect for that.
Is missing a penalty in front of millions of people a disaster?
Well it's a disaster… It’s not nice. You have to survive mentally and not fall apart. When I missed a penalty once, I committed myself to score an open play goal. It's just like taking revenge on yourself. You have to be motivated and not let yourself down. I usually feel down for few days after I miss a penalty, I blame myself for it. There are no excuses. Once you take a penalty you have to score, or else you will fail. It’s actually quite simple. You look at the ball, know the corner you are going for and shoot the ball. If the keeper stops it you have done something wrong. This season I have missed three penalties, that’s way too many. Last season I scored twelve from the spot. You can always practise penalties. You should always try to aim high as the keeper always gamble to dive low. But you can easily shoot too high so it will always be difficult. And at big tournaments you have to walk to the penalty spot from the centre circle. It’s all great television but the tension is enormous. I have enjoyed the Dutch cup match between Sparta and FC Utrecht for me that was the biggest match of the year and finished by a penalty shoot-out. I sat at the edge of my seat.
How many players do Manchester United have to bring in to regain the championship?
I think there will be 1 or 2 players joining us. A club like Manchester United has to become champions, and we have a good basis for that. We don’t need a lot of players to join us. Rio Ferdinand will be back, that’s very important. He's got a long suspension. The same happened to a player of Manchester City. He got a fine of 2000 pounds and a three match ban. That’s not fair. Manchester United is not being treated like any other club. | 
