Fergie explains Ruud snub
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Sir Alex Ferguson claims Ruud van Nistelrooy's reaction to being dropped from last season's Carling Cup final was the primary reason behind his decision to offload the freescoring Dutchman.
Despite scoring a remarkable 150 goals in five prolific terms at Old Trafford, Ferguson showed van Nistelrooy short-shift when he failed to appreciate top level football is now very much a squad game.
Towards the close of the past season Ferguson elected to use Louis Saha alongside Wayne Rooney in his attack, including for the Carling Cup final at the Millennium Stadium, in a decision that effectively severed their relationship.
Ferguson claims that whilst he accepted the 30-year-old would be disappointed, even angry with his decision - he would not tolerate a lingering feeling of disenchantment from his front-man.
Like many before him van Nistelrooy fell on his manager's sword and was swiftly dispatched to Real Madrid, with Ferguson unapologetic about his stance.
"The big difference with modern-day football is that now we have squads of players,'' said Ferguson.
"It makes it difficult for a manager because every time you come to pick a team for a major game there are two or three players you are hesitant about telling they are out of the team either because they are great players, they have been great players in the past or you have a certain relationship with them.
"All you can do is hope they will agree with the reasoning behind your decision. Of course, sometimes a player doesn't agree. I am happy with that.
"But it what happens after that, how they adapt to it is different with every player.
''Ruud was different in that way. That is exactly what happened."
While Ferguson is fine-tuning his side at a four-team Amsterdam pre-season tournament, van Nistelrooy is making early impressions of his own after making his debut in the white of Madrid.
Van Nistelrooy failed to score but did impress as he played the first 45 minutes of his new team's victory over Reggina in Austria.
The Dutchman partnered Antonio Cassano in attack and looked comfortable as he produced some good touches on a rain-soaked pitch in Graz.
After joining Madrid last week, van Nistelrooy flew out to join his team-mates at their pre-season training base and play in the final game of their Austrian programme.
Emerson also played his first game for the club since joining from Juventus as the Brazilian appeared for the entire second half alongside David Beckham, who was playing after recovering from an ankle injury.
Despite scoring a remarkable 150 goals in five prolific terms at Old Trafford, Ferguson showed van Nistelrooy short-shift when he failed to appreciate top level football is now very much a squad game.
Towards the close of the past season Ferguson elected to use Louis Saha alongside Wayne Rooney in his attack, including for the Carling Cup final at the Millennium Stadium, in a decision that effectively severed their relationship.
Ferguson claims that whilst he accepted the 30-year-old would be disappointed, even angry with his decision - he would not tolerate a lingering feeling of disenchantment from his front-man.
Like many before him van Nistelrooy fell on his manager's sword and was swiftly dispatched to Real Madrid, with Ferguson unapologetic about his stance.
"The big difference with modern-day football is that now we have squads of players,'' said Ferguson.
"It makes it difficult for a manager because every time you come to pick a team for a major game there are two or three players you are hesitant about telling they are out of the team either because they are great players, they have been great players in the past or you have a certain relationship with them.
"All you can do is hope they will agree with the reasoning behind your decision. Of course, sometimes a player doesn't agree. I am happy with that.
"But it what happens after that, how they adapt to it is different with every player.
''Ruud was different in that way. That is exactly what happened."
While Ferguson is fine-tuning his side at a four-team Amsterdam pre-season tournament, van Nistelrooy is making early impressions of his own after making his debut in the white of Madrid.
Van Nistelrooy failed to score but did impress as he played the first 45 minutes of his new team's victory over Reggina in Austria.
The Dutchman partnered Antonio Cassano in attack and looked comfortable as he produced some good touches on a rain-soaked pitch in Graz.
After joining Madrid last week, van Nistelrooy flew out to join his team-mates at their pre-season training base and play in the final game of their Austrian programme.
Emerson also played his first game for the club since joining from Juventus as the Brazilian appeared for the entire second half alongside David Beckham, who was playing after recovering from an ankle injury.
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