RUUD van Nistelrooy tonight admitted that having his former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson watching him take charge of PSV Eindhoven against Rangers was a proud moment.
Sir Alex returned to his old club to watch the first leg of the Champions League play-off between Van Nistelrooy’s side and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team this evening.
The legendary Dutch striker, who played under the Scot at Old Trafford for five years, led the Eredivisie team to a 2-2 draw against their Premiership rivals.
He confessed that it was special to have Ferguson, who sat next to his ex-team mate John Greig in the directors’ box in the Govan ground, in the 49,097-strong crowd.
“I had a wonderful time here,” he said. “I saw Sir Alex Ferguson. He said: ‘Good to see you again’. And he thought it was a beautiful match.
“He said he was proud of me and he likes seeing me being a coach and running along the side of the pitch. I was especially proud that he saw me coaching.”
Asked if he hoped to be as good a manager as Sir Alex one day, Van Nistelrooy said: “If I am even one per cent as good . . .
“I was proud that he was able to see my coach my team and manage my team. I’m glad he’s well. I spoke to him just briefly, but he’s well and looking great. His family is well.
“As I say, it was great to see him. For him to see me on the touchline at Ibrox is a proud moment for me.
“I learned so much from him. When you develop yourself as a coach, you obviously look back at the managers you had, what they did, how they formed a team, the style of play and how they managed individuals. He is such an example in that sense.”
United have been linked with PSV winger Cody Gakpo, who set up both of the visitors’ goals this evening, and Van Nistelrooy was asked if Sir Alex, who still works in an ambassadorial role at Old Trafford, had enquired about the availability of the player.
“He didn’t,” he said. “We were just talking about how we were. We didn’t really discuss United or players. It was just a personal chat, really.”
Van Nistelrooy believes that both PSV and Rangers can reach the group stages of the Champions League despite the second leg being played in Eindhoven next Wednesday night.
“We know what it is like with a great support behind us,” he said. “That was today as well for Rangers. During some spells in the game the crowd lifted the team in such a way that is hard. I mean, you really notice it. There are not many places where you feel it like this.
“Of course next week we will have that support. But both teams are very level in quality and with playing styles. It is reduced to one game now with the final at home. We have to prepare and be at our best.
“They became dangerous at the end, but thank goodness we are playing the next leg at home. We are not expecting a lot of difference in Holland.”
