the World Cup:
RUUD – MISSING THE WORLD CUP DID ME GOOD
the World Cup:
"Unlike last season, I have been at my peak at the end of
the season. The last 10 to 15 games I was really going well.
It helps that I didn't play in the World Cup. Obviously I
was disappointed Holland didn't make it, but maybe I would
have petered out earlier if I had gone to Japan.”
the season. The last 10 to 15 games I was really going well.
It helps that I didn't play in the World Cup. Obviously I
was disappointed Holland didn't make it, but maybe I would
have petered out earlier if I had gone to Japan.”
He will not rest of his laurels this summer, and still wants
to improve his game:
to improve his game:
"Next season I want to work hard to improve my assists. I
want to progress all the time. I wanted to lay on a few more
goals this season, but I had other things to work on and I
didn't want to try and take two steps at a time. But that's
what I will be trying to do next year. It won't mean fewer
goals but there is a balance between always looking for the
goal and setting colleagues up.
want to progress all the time. I wanted to lay on a few more
goals this season, but I had other things to work on and I
didn't want to try and take two steps at a time. But that's
what I will be trying to do next year. It won't mean fewer
goals but there is a balance between always looking for the
goal and setting colleagues up.
"You have to be clear in your mind that if you have a chance
you have to take it. You don't have to think about an
assist, that has to be a natural thing. For me the natural
thing is to see the goal! Sometimes I turn round after a
shot and I look around at the players who were in a good
position and they aren't happy. But that is the way it is.
you have to take it. You don't have to think about an
assist, that has to be a natural thing. For me the natural
thing is to see the goal! Sometimes I turn round after a
shot and I look around at the players who were in a good
position and they aren't happy. But that is the way it is.
"I do feel if someone is in a better position than me I have
to give it. There is no doubt about it. But if I see the
goal, that is where I want to put it. Maybe the right mix
will come in time. I could score less goals next season but
become a better player and Manchester United could win the
Champions League. Improving and United winning is more vital
than how many goals I get."
And he says he wasn’t worried by any pressure to repeat his
goal tally this season:
“It didn't really frighten me having to try and repeat or
better last season. I was warned that the second season was
the hardest and was told if it is not going the way you want
then don't get frustrated. People tried to warn and reassure
me. But I wasn't too worried or bothered. I thought that if
I had a good season last year and showed I was capable of
doing it once, then if I have the will to work and improve,
why can't I do it another time?
to give it. There is no doubt about it. But if I see the
goal, that is where I want to put it. Maybe the right mix
will come in time. I could score less goals next season but
become a better player and Manchester United could win the
Champions League. Improving and United winning is more vital
than how many goals I get."
And he says he wasn’t worried by any pressure to repeat his
goal tally this season:
“It didn't really frighten me having to try and repeat or
better last season. I was warned that the second season was
the hardest and was told if it is not going the way you want
then don't get frustrated. People tried to warn and reassure
me. But I wasn't too worried or bothered. I thought that if
I had a good season last year and showed I was capable of
doing it once, then if I have the will to work and improve,
why can't I do it another time?
"I knew it was a hell of a task for me to do it again but I
just wanted to improve. I didn't set myself a goal target
this season and I won't do it next year. I don't do goal
targets. All I aim to do is improve and see where that takes
me. Last season I scored a lot of goals but I felt that this
year there was more inside me. I knew there was more to come
from me."
just wanted to improve. I didn't set myself a goal target
this season and I won't do it next year. I don't do goal
targets. All I aim to do is improve and see where that takes
me. Last season I scored a lot of goals but I felt that this
year there was more inside me. I knew there was more to come
from me."