Cool Ruud's ready for big games challenge

Ruud van Nistelrooy is remaining calm as he and his Manchester United team-mates enter the business end of the season.

The Red Devils travel to third-placed Newcastle on Saturday before taking on Arsenal at Highbury next Wednesday in a pair of games which could be crucial in the outcome of the Barclaycard Premiership title race.

A week after their trip to north London, United face Real Madrid at Old Trafford trying to claw back a 3-1 first-leg deficit in order to book a place in the Champions League semi-finals.

Van Nistelrooy netted the potentially vital away goal at the Bernabeu which gives United a glimmer of hope of repeating their 1999 triumph in the competition, and insists he is ready for more high-octane encounters before the end of the campaign.

“It’s the most important part of the season, with some massive games,” van Nistelrooy told the club’s official website www.manutd.com.

“But everyone’s ready for them. There will be no surprises, we know exactly what we need to do, we know the teams and all the players so that makes it good.

“What’s pressure? The important thing is playing well and trying to win games. That’s what we’ve been trying to do all season, and now isn’t any different.”

Van Nistelrooy spoke highly of this weekend’s opponents Newcastle, managed by his former boss at PSV Eindhoven Sir Bobby Robson.

“He’s a great manager. The years that he’s been with Newcastle now and the clubs that he had previously, it’s amazing what he’s achieved. It was a privilege to work with him for that one year at PSV Eindhoven.

“Everyone knows that (Craig) Bellamy and (Alan) Shearer are a great duo up front.

“Then there’s (Kieron) Dyer and (Jermaine) Jenas who come in from midfield to make great runs into our box.

“(Laurent) Robert’s on the left – he’s a good striker of the ball and a good crosser. That makes them a complete team.”

Meanwhile, injured midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron is aiming to return for the second leg against Real Madrid, and is exuding confidence that the tie can still be won by United.

“Real Madrid might think it is over but it’s not. I promise our fans that we’ll still be in the final. The contest is not finished because every man in our squad knows the final is fixed at Old Trafford and

we must be there at any cost,” the Argentinian told The Sun.

“There is no doubt that we can win 2-0 and put Real Madrid out of the tournament even though they are the European champions and we will be without suspended Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

“Real were very good on the night but nobody should be fooled into thinking we are beaten.”