"I was keen to score, having not played last week. I was
fresh, I felt good and I am glad we are in the semis.
"Sometimes managers and players disagree. I always want to
play. It doesn't mean I have to play, but I accept things
and I look forward to the next game. I hadn't been feeling
the strain. It is a shame I didn't play, that is what I
thought.
"I had played more games than anyone else in our squad this
season and I know deep down I probably agree with him, but
it is not nice to be rested."
However Ruud refused to credit his two goals to the fact he
was dropped last week:
"It is not about giving the manager credit for resting me,
it is not like that. I am just delighted to reach the semis.
“People expect a lot of us because of all the success the
club has enjoyed in past years. It's something you accept as
soon as you join Manchester United. It's part of being a
player here and it is something you have to live with.
“People are writing us off at the moment but it is what we
believe about ourselves that counts. We just go from game to
game and see what we can do. The only thing that really
matters is performing on the pitch.”