Ruud wanted more medals
Ruud van Nistelrooy has admitted he expected to have pocketed more than two winners’ medals in five years with Manchester United.
Van Nistelrooy’s prolific goalscoring record since joining the Red Devils in 2001 has already earned him a place in United’s history books.
The Dutchman needs just two more to become the eighth player to net 150 goals for the club and join an elite band including George Best, Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton, but only Mark Hughes from the modern-day era.
However, Van Nistelrooy’s phenomenal achievements, which have come in just 207 appearances since his £18.5m (€26.9m) move from PSV Eindhoven in 2001 have not resulted in major honours.
To date, the 29-year-old has just a single Premiership title and a solitary FA Cup win to look back on, a paltry return given the vast number of trophies United collected in the decade prior to his arrival at Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy acknowledges he would have viewed the figure as a disappointment at the start of his United career but accepts the landscape of the game has changed since his move to England.
“When I joined United they had won seven out of the last nine Premiership titles, won the Champions League in 1999 and also the treble,” Van Nistelrooy told the Manchester Evening News.
“The expectations for everyone then, and I suppose myself, was that United were going to win a similar number of titles.
“But football is not as simple as that. We are in a situation now where we are improving. We are building a team that can be the best again if we continue the progress we are making.”
There would be no better place for Van Nistelrooy to grab the brace he needs to complete the magical 150 than Anfield, one of the few grounds he has never scored at during his time at United.
If he completes the aim in Saturday’s eagerly-awaited clash with Liverpool, it would go a long way towards booking United’s place in the FA Cup sixth round and maintaining an enviable unbeaten record against the Reds in the competition which dates back to 1921.
Having already booked a Carling Cup final meeting with Wigan for February 26, Van Nistelrooy is hopeful of boosting his medal haul significantly this season - and has still not totally ruled out the possibility of overhauling Chelsea in the Premiership title race.
“I am proud of what I have achieved at United,” he said.
“It has been five fantastic years and I hope this season will bring silverware again. I can’t get the words out of my mouth to not still go for the title.
“We will still go for it because it is not finished yet.”
United’s hopes of beating Liverpool this weekend have been bolstered by confirmation that Edwin van der Sar, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville should all be fit to face Rafael Benitez’s men.
Van der Sar and Giggs were substituted at half-time during Saturday’s win at Portsmouth after picking up groin and thigh injuries respectively, while Neville missed the Fratton Park match entirely with a hamstring strain.
However, none of the injuries is thought to be serious and all three are expected to be in Alex Ferguson’s starting line-up for the televised clash, which will see United backed by a massive 6,200-strong travelling contingent.
“It is going to be a fantastic atmosphere,” said Rio Ferdinand.
“All the lads can’t wait to play at Anfield. It will be great to see two tiers of our fans behind the goal.”
