I respected Ruud van Nistelrooy’s talent and I still do. A brilliant goalscorer. A penalty-box predator. An undisputed winner for Manchester United.
People have been asking me about the Battle of Old Trafford on an almost daily basis for the best part of 20 years. But the context is often forgotten.
When Arsenal won the title at Old Trafford in May 2002, Van Nistelrooy stamped on my foot while I was marking him. I missed the final game of Arsenal’s season as a result and was a doubt for that summer’s World Cup.