Fergie praises brilliant strike

ALEX FERGUSON saluted Ruud van Nistelrooy after his dazzling double strike earned Manchester United a 3-1 win Champions League win over Basle last night.

An admiring Ferguson said: ''The second goal was absolutely brilliant.

''I thought he was going to cut it back, but then he saw the gap and took it on.

''He's a marvellous finisher I see it in training every day.''

Ferguson admitted United had been struggling until van Nistelrooy's lethal double shattered Basle's confidence.

''At the beginning of the second half it was all their play and at that point we needed a break,'' he said.

''It was a good cross and a good header for the first goal, and from that point we were by far the better side,'' he said.

Van Nistelrooy, whose two goals took his Champions League tally to eight, said: ''I'm very happy with the second goal.

''I was thinking 'I'm going to cross it or finish it'. I didn't see many people in front of goal so I went for the finish, and it went in.

''It was a great cross from Ole for the first goal exactly where I wanted it.''

Meanwhile, Manchester City last night took the unexpected step of denying manager Kevin Keegan has resigned.

There have been no clear signals from Keegan or the club about how much money the former England coach will be given to strengthen his squad when the transfer window reopens in January, prompting rumours he could be on his way out of Maine Road.

But the club yesterday issued an unequivocal denial of rumours which began when Keegan would not comment after a meeting with club chairman David Bernstein and other directors last week.

When asked again after Saturday's game against Middlesbrough about how much money was being made available to sign players, Keegan said:

''You will have to ask the chairman about the financial situation. He and the board decide what money is available and I am not in a position to tell you.''

But City's chief operating officer Chris Bird yesterday insisted there was no question of Keegan, who threatened to quit as Newcastle manager in March 1992 over a lack of funds, resigning over this matter.

''I can unequivocally deny that Kevin Keegan has resigned from Manchester City,'' he stressed.

''Once again the rumour mill has been in full swing, but there is absolutely no substance to this speculation.

''We met with Kevin last week and like the fans and the board of the club our manager is intent on City moving forward.

"We are all looking at that as our aim.''