Fergie: I would loved to have played with Ruud

Alex Ferguson was asked to name the striker he would most liked to have played with as he was about to celebrate 1,000 games in charge as Manchester United manager, and there was little hesitation.

“Ruud van Nistelrooy”, came the response from the veteran Old Trafford boss, a former centre-forward himself in his native Scotland.

And the Dutchman did not disappoint on a passionate Champions League night as Ferguson marked his milestone on home soil with progress into the last 16 of the competition.

While Ferguson’s length of quality service at United is remarkable, so too is Van Nistelrooy’s scoring record in Europe’s top club competition.

He made it an astonishing 36 goals in 37 games at this level for United – and it ended Lyon’s spirited resistance.

United secured a place in the next stage thanks to the 564th win of Ferguson’s United career. Of the remaining games, 248 have been drawn and 188 lost.

Ferguson insists he has still a great deal of unfinished business and arguably top of his list is winning the Champions League for at least one more time.

But Lyon made it difficult for his side tonight, despite the assurance of already qualifying for the second stage with some nice football.

It was all going according to Ferguson’s grand plan with United opening the scoring, although Gary Neville could hardly have been tipped to find the target.

While second only to Raul in all-time Champions League appearances – 95 – this was only his second goal at this level.

Lyon drew level through Mahamadou Diarra, only for Van Nistelrooy to get the winner before going off in the 71st minute with a heel injury.

The victory and three points put the seal on a grand night for Ferguson and his backroom team.

During his reign, United have won 18 trophies in those 18 years, the highlight being the 1999 Champions League triumph.

Yet he saw his side lose 2-0 to Oxford in his first game in charge. How times have changed.

Ferguson added: “I marvel not only at the privilege of helping to steer our great club forward over the past 18 years but also the progress we have made.

“The whole game has developed dramatically but I would like to think at least for the past decade we have been at the forefront.”

While United still have ground to make up in the Premiership, they march on in Europe and are now unbeaten in 22 home ties after this win tonight.