Ruud van Nistelrooy

“Because people have read those things in the newspapers, they think it is true. Ten years ago all these things I have just mentioned would have upset me.”

“We have to be thankful to the Czechs that they did their duty. The Czech Republic won, I can't believe it. It was a huge party with all the people here.”

“Every day I work my guts out in training, every match I play my heart out.”

“But really, I can only be dangerous for the team in one place, and that is in the box.”

“I think we have really integrated well around Manchester. This is the place where we feel at home. We like it here, we love the English way of life and we prefer it much, much more than the south of Europe.”

“I let people say and write what they want.”

“Of course I have the odd bad game like other players. But I can't accept that. Especially when things don't go right for United. It all means so much to me to be succesful here. It drives me crazy at times.”

“My back to the goal, physically fighting off defenders, trying to bang my goals in, every week I have to do the business for this club. That's the life of a striker.”

“Certain things do not effect me anymore, which is not always good. There is always commotion, but I notice that hardly anything affects me or puts me out of balance.”

“The country life near Manchester I really love.”

“Losing is not in my vocabulary.”

“Italy and Spain really are not my countries.”

“As a private person I think I am now totally different from Ruud van Nistelrooy the footballer.”

“People say it is part of the game. You win some, you lose some. But not for me.”

“I personally think that we can win the World Cup. We are improving with every game. With such a young average age in the squad we can only carry on improving.”

“Because of that I don't care when I read in the newspaper that I am colourblind. I went through a red light in my car and I stopped when I before a green light. So I must be really colourblind, eh?”

“In that match for Holland I asked for a big responsibility, I got it and I dealt with it. I played well, I scored goals and the team qualified for the Euro 2004 finals. It was a big night and an important moment for Holland.”

“In Spain and Italy I would not have a life among the fans. Everyone wants to touch you, own you and approach you. I try to be as kind as possible to all my fans, but in those countries I could not do it. There they ask too much from you.”

“The real big stars only keep this up for about seven years.”

“I really want be of great value for the team.”