Kluivert tribute to Van Nistelrooy
By Ian Ladyman
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been hailed as the natural successor to Dutch goalscoring legend Marco van Basten.
The high praise came from Barcelona and Holland striker Patrick Kluivert and is indicative of just how much impact Van Nistelrooy has had in his home country after just one season at Manchester United.
Here in the Netherlands, former World and European Footballer of the Year Van Basten is still spoken of in almost reverential tones and - despite retiring with an ankle injury at the age of 28 - is held in similar esteem to the likes of 1970s superstar Johan Cruyff.
But 36 goals in one season at Old Trafford have gone some way to convincing the Dutch public that in Van Nistelrooy, they may have another great in the making.
Kluivert said: 'I sometimes cannot believe just what Ruud van Nistelrooy did at Manchester United last year. It was a wonderful season from a wonderful player.
'He has everything that a striker needs. He has good speed, he is strong and when he gets a chance of goal, he is lethal.
'I think he will get better and better over the seasons to come. It is difficult to compare people with Van Basten but Ruud has a chance.
'I would love to play in attack with him more for Holland. I think we can be a great partnership - I can't think of anybody I would rather play with more.'
Kluivert and Van Nistelrooy are back in Holland this weekend for the four-team Amsterdam tournament.
And Kluivert is still looking forward to watching the compatriot with whom he shares his date of birth - July 1, 1976.
'It's a shame that we will not be on the same field, because we could have had some friendly competition,' added Kluivert.
'But I always enjoy watching Ruud. He is a very entertaining player.'
Van Nistelrooy, who became the first player to score in eight consecutive Premiership matches, said: 'I feel very good at the moment. All I want to do this season is show the same commitment and work ethic as I did last season and try to get the maximum from each game.
'I have heard people say that the second season at a club is harder than the first. I have thought about that possibility.
'But nothing has gone to my head. I know that the only way to win the trophies that we missed out on last season is to perform.
'That is why I have to get the maximum from my talents this season. We all do.'
As United continue to look ahead to the new season, they do so in the knowledge that manager Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to add one more centre forward to his roster.
The departure of Dwight Yorke to Blackburn last week has left Ferguson with just three mainline strikers - Van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the unproven Diego Forlan.
Ferguson is not in the market for a big-name player, simply because he has spent the vast majority of his summer budget on the £30m purchase of defender Rio Ferdinand.
Such restrictions rule out the likes of Blackburn's Damien Duff - a player the Scot admires - and Chelsea's talented but unsettled Eidur Gudjohnsen.
French defender Julien Escude remains in Ferguson's thoughts as a long-term prospect but it is more likely that the Rennes full back will arrive in time for next season.
'If it was only up to me, I would not be here any more,' said Escude.
<a href="http://www.soccernet.com/england/news/2002/0803/20020803mufcvannistelrooy.html" target="_blank">http://www.soccernet.com/england/news/2002/0803/20020803mufcvannistelrooy.html</a>
By Ian Ladyman
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been hailed as the natural successor to Dutch goalscoring legend Marco van Basten.
The high praise came from Barcelona and Holland striker Patrick Kluivert and is indicative of just how much impact Van Nistelrooy has had in his home country after just one season at Manchester United.
Here in the Netherlands, former World and European Footballer of the Year Van Basten is still spoken of in almost reverential tones and - despite retiring with an ankle injury at the age of 28 - is held in similar esteem to the likes of 1970s superstar Johan Cruyff.
But 36 goals in one season at Old Trafford have gone some way to convincing the Dutch public that in Van Nistelrooy, they may have another great in the making.
Kluivert said: 'I sometimes cannot believe just what Ruud van Nistelrooy did at Manchester United last year. It was a wonderful season from a wonderful player.
'He has everything that a striker needs. He has good speed, he is strong and when he gets a chance of goal, he is lethal.
'I think he will get better and better over the seasons to come. It is difficult to compare people with Van Basten but Ruud has a chance.
'I would love to play in attack with him more for Holland. I think we can be a great partnership - I can't think of anybody I would rather play with more.'
Kluivert and Van Nistelrooy are back in Holland this weekend for the four-team Amsterdam tournament.
And Kluivert is still looking forward to watching the compatriot with whom he shares his date of birth - July 1, 1976.
'It's a shame that we will not be on the same field, because we could have had some friendly competition,' added Kluivert.
'But I always enjoy watching Ruud. He is a very entertaining player.'
Van Nistelrooy, who became the first player to score in eight consecutive Premiership matches, said: 'I feel very good at the moment. All I want to do this season is show the same commitment and work ethic as I did last season and try to get the maximum from each game.
'I have heard people say that the second season at a club is harder than the first. I have thought about that possibility.
'But nothing has gone to my head. I know that the only way to win the trophies that we missed out on last season is to perform.
'That is why I have to get the maximum from my talents this season. We all do.'
As United continue to look ahead to the new season, they do so in the knowledge that manager Sir Alex Ferguson hopes to add one more centre forward to his roster.
The departure of Dwight Yorke to Blackburn last week has left Ferguson with just three mainline strikers - Van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the unproven Diego Forlan.
Ferguson is not in the market for a big-name player, simply because he has spent the vast majority of his summer budget on the £30m purchase of defender Rio Ferdinand.
Such restrictions rule out the likes of Blackburn's Damien Duff - a player the Scot admires - and Chelsea's talented but unsettled Eidur Gudjohnsen.
French defender Julien Escude remains in Ferguson's thoughts as a long-term prospect but it is more likely that the Rennes full back will arrive in time for next season.
'If it was only up to me, I would not be here any more,' said Escude.
<a href="http://www.soccernet.com/england/news/2002/0803/20020803mufcvannistelrooy.html" target="_blank">http://www.soccernet.com/england/news/2002/0803/20020803mufcvannistelrooy.html</a>