Ruud set sights on Golden boot
Saturday, June 16, 2007

Ruud van Nistelrooy will be aiming not only to clinch the Spanish title for Real Madrid next Sunday, but also get sole possession of the European Golden Boot award.

The Dutch striker has 26 goals to his name and is level with Roma's Francesco Totti but, with one game left in the last major European league to finish, Van Nistelrooy has a chance to claim the prize for himself.

He scored both of Real's goals in their 2-2 draw at Real Zaragoza on Saturday to move level with the Italian striker.

"I've never known anything like it in my life. I can't describe how I feel," said the normally articulate Van Nistelrooy yesterday.

Van Nistelrooy was the runner up in the continental scoring tables in 1999 and 2000 and picked up the two European Silver Boot awards while at PSV Eindhoven in his native country.

"I couldn't believe it. I was watching our fans celebrating and running towards the centre spot, because I didn't want to lose any time, and when I saw them still celebrating I looked up at the scoreboard (to see Espanyol had scored)," said Van Nistelrooy.

"Against Mallorca we have to play much better than we did against Zaragoza. We had a lot of luck against them." he added.

"We played with a lot of spirit and determination and things worked out when Espanyol got an equaliser, but this is a team that never gives up.

"What's happened this season isn't normal though, but we have a great opportunity now and we have to take advantage of it.

"However, we have still one game remaining, so we'll have to see whether we will be champions," added van Nistelrooy, sounding a note of suitable caution.

Real have only lost one game since they drew 3-3 at Barcelona in March - a result which now gives them a firm advantage, because ties in Spain are decided in head-to-head battles.

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