Sir Alex Ferguson and Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruud's 'proud moment' with Sir Alex

Wednesday 17 August 2022 11:45

Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy has been explaining why it was such a 'proud moment' to have Sir Alex Ferguson watch him managing PSV Eindhoven.

Sir Alex was in attendance at Ibrox Stadium on Tuesday night, as his old club Rangers drew 2-2 with Ruud’s PSV in the first leg of the Champions League qualification play-offs.

The Dutch side took the lead in the first half through Ibrahim Sangare, but the Scottish side quickly responded as new striker Antonio Colak finished off a slick team move.

United Academy graduate Tom Lawrence sent Ibrox into raptures 20 minutes from the end as his free-kick escaped the grasp of PSV keeper Walter Benitez and trickled over the line.

However, Armando Obispo headed home to equalise and give van Nistelrooy’s men a great result to take back to Philips Stadion next Wednesday.

Sir Alex watched it all unfold from his seat in the director’s box alongside Rangers icon John Greig and Ruud was delighted to have his former boss there.

The pair – who worked together at United between 2001 and 2006 – caught up afterwards too.

“It was a proud moment for me that he actually watched me coach my team, manage my team,” Ruud said after the game.

“I’m glad he’s well. I spoke to him just briefly: he’s well, he’s looking great.

“He’s well and his family’s well so it’s great to see him. As I said before, that he sees me down the touchline at Ibrox, it’s a proud moment.”

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Van Nistelrooy also joked that he’d be happy if he ended up being ‘one percent’ as good a manager as Ferguson was.

He’s certainly made a good start to life in the hotseat at PSV: the Dutch club knocked out Monaco in the previous Champions League qualifying round and have won all three of their domestic games so far during Ruud’s tenure, including the Johan Cruyff Shield – the Netherlands’ version of our Community Shield.

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