Fergie: 'Striker leaving is Ruud joke'

Alex Ferguson has again declared that Ruud van Nistelrooy is going nowhere despite fresh reports linking the Dutchman with a move to Real Madrid.

Just seven days after Van Nistelrooy and Ferguson joined forces to state the striker would still be at Old Trafford next season, speculation has erupted in the Spanish capital that the striker is about to sign a contract with the nine-times European Cup winners.

There are even claims that high ranking officials of United and Real met on Wednesday to thrash out the deal, which could be completed within days.

However, senior figures within the Red Devils camp have dismissed that specific rumour as ’nonsense’ while Ferguson again went on the offensive to insist the 27-year-old was staying where he is.

“I did what I had to do last week about relieving the supporters’ minds about the whole situation,” said the United chief.

“The position is exactly the same. Ruud van Nistelrooy will still be here next year.”

If that wasn’t enough, Ferguson also revealed that his 26-goal front-man was part of an almost fully fit squad for tomorrow’s encounter with deflated Chelsea.

There had been reports that the former PSV player – who has struggled with knee and thigh problems recently – would be rested for the final two games of the Premiership campaign in an effort to ensure he was fully fit for the FA Cup Final showdown with Millwall on May 22.

However, Ferguson announced that skipper Roy Keane was the only member of his squad who will miss out tomorrow but even the Irishman’s long-standing hamstring problem should have eased sufficiently for him to turn out against Aston Villa next weekend.

United must inflict more misery on Claudio Ranieri’s men if they are to stand any chance of claiming the second automatic Champions League spot as runners-up to Arsenal.

Victory would reduce the gap to a single point ahead of the final round of matches, yet even that possibility is not enough to persuade Ferguson that his side will finish second.

Already he is anticipating two Champions League qualifying games in August and working out how best to ease his players through a pre-season which also includes a three-match tour to the United States, two matches in the inaugural Vodafone Cup, plus a likely Community Shield clash with Arsenal.

“Second spot is beyond us,” he said.

“Chelsea play Leeds in their last game and given the general despondency around Elland Road this week, you would have to think they will win.

“Even if we finish third, at least we will have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League, which is something other clubs won’t but it does make a difference to our preparations for next season.

“If any of our players are involved in the European Championship final they will not be finished until July 4, so we will have to give a lot of thought to what they do in pre-season.

“It won’t be easy but we will have to find a way round it.”

Ferguson will hope the arrival of Claudio Ranieri’s side will help lift a team who have stumbled alarmingly since memorably defeating Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final a month ago.

Three defeats in the last four games have been characterised by largely lethargic performances, particularly in attack and the Red Devils chief senses the lack of involvement in the later stages of the title race for the first time in the Premiership era is a major contributing factor.

“Because they are not contesting the title, the players have found it difficult since we defeated Arsenal,” he said.

“If they had stumbled at some point, it may have lifted us but once it was over for us, I think the players started looking towards the final.”

Even if United were to finish the season empty-handed, Ferguson at least knows his job is safe.

In contrast, Chelsea’s Champions League exit to Monaco on Wednesday seems to have sealed Ranieri’s fate.

The Italian’s future has long been a subject of intense discussion and while his rival tomorrow refused to get involved in the political intrigue at Stamford Bridge, he admitted Ranieri’s conduct had been impeccable.

“There is no doubt Claudio has had a hard time but he has held his dignity well, he has held his nerve well and he has still got his team to perform well.

“What happened to Chelsea on Wednesday reminded me of what has happened to us in Europe down the years.

“At that level, when you get chances you have to take them. They could have been four up at half-time, instead they conceded a goal just before the break and it was a killer.

“It is very difficult to get over it results like that – but it is something we have had to do over the years. You just have to move on.”