Guardian
‘Watching Ruud van Nistelrooy destroy Sparta Prague last night, it hardly seemed real that Manchester United have found goals so hard to come by in the Premiership. Banned domestically for a stamp on Ashley Cole, Van Nistelrooy continues to use his right boot for more productive purposes in Europe, trampling over opponents in a legitimate sense.
‘This was the sixth time he had scored a hat-trick since coming to Old Trafford and the first that he had accumulated four. The Holland striker has never been fussy about the quality of his goals and it will scarcely matter that he benefited from two atrocious backpasses and a penalty before adding the final flourish in stoppage-time.
‘Van Nistelrooy's game is about being merciless to opponents and this was an unforgiving demonstration, one that all but guarantees Sir Alex Ferguson's team a safe passage to the competition's knockout phases. They can even afford to lose their next game against Lyon provided they avoid defeat when they travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce in the final match of Group D.
‘The Dutchman may also have quelled the debate, for now at least, about United's alleged shortcomings in attack. Eleven goals in as many Premiership fixtures represents their least distinguished scoring start to a season since they were relegated in 1974 but Ferguson will prefer the statistic that tells him United have now scored in 39 of their past 43 matches in the Champions League. Van Nistelrooy's total in Europe stands at 35 goals in 36 starts and, having overtaken Denis Law's club record earlier in the season, he seems intent on obliterating it
‘The paradox of the game was that United's most impressive player might not have been Van Nistelrooy but their goalkeeper Roy Carroll. Sparta's bright and inventive attackers posed plenty of problems and, as was the case in Prague a fortnight earlier, Carroll produced a succession of outstanding saves, most notably when he denied both Tomas Jun and Zelenka in the closing moments of the first half. The Northern Ireland international might not have the high profile status of some of his predecessors but his form justifies Tim Howard's exclusion.’
Indie:
‘Some strikers are born to score hat-tricks, some achieve hat-tricks, while others have hat-tricks thrust upon them. Last night Ruud van Nistelrooy belonged in category three.
‘For the second Champions' League match in succession, Old Trafford witnessed three goals or more from a great centre-forward. But while Wayne Rooney's hat-trick against Fenerbahce was full of swagger and promise, Van Nistelrooy's four was all about the art of opportunism. His goals came from an abysmal back-pass, a penalty, a defensive hesitation and a tap-in from a few yards.
‘This is not to be sniffy about Van Nistelrooy, who has now scored 35 times in 36 Champions' League matches for Manchester United. Without his instinctive brilliance this might have been another match of glaringly wasted chances against wonderfully resilient opponents.
‘Managers often remark that their teams could have scored half-a-dozen before half time. Nearly always they come from the Gérard Houllier school of shot-counting, where back-passes are measured as attempts on goal. Last night the official statistics showed 23 genuine shots before half-time and 36 in all. The majority came from Sparta Prague.’
Times:
‘Wisely restricting himself to kicking the ball rather than the opposition, Ruud van Nistelrooy last night scored four times and hoisted his team to the verge of the knockout phase of the Champions League. In a timely riposte to Sir Alex Ferguson’s complaints about a lack of goals, Manchester United brushed aside Sparta Prague. Perhaps the manager’s threat to dust off his boots had served as an inspiration.
‘Van Nistelrooy, suspended for three domestic matches after his ugly challenge on Ashley Cole during the tempestuous defeat of Arsenal 11 days ago, returned to the fray in remarkable fashion. The Holland striker has now amassed 35 goals in 36 European appearances for United and if there is any concern for Ferguson, it can only be that the bounty is not spread around more freely.
‘Van Nistelrooy completes his ban in Sunday’s derby against Manchester City and although his ineligibility is unwelcome, at least his team-mates, insipid in their 2-0 defeat away to Portsmouth last weekend, enjoyed the vicarious pleasure of watching the net bulge. That said, even Ferguson would have fancied his chances against Sparta, whose fluidity in attack was undermined by defending that bordered on the suicidal. They were not the kind of opportunities — a hapless back-pass, a penalty and a tap-in — that Van Nistelrooy is prone to reject, though his third goal was an example of his genius.
‘With Lyons, who have now qualified, beating Fenerbahce 4-2, United remain second in group D and trail the French club, their next opponents, by two points. “It’s now a matter of how much both teams want first place,” Ferguson said, “and we certainly don’t want to be going to Fenerbahce needing a draw. Getting through is our first priority.”
Telegraph:
‘Banned domestically, Ruud van Nistelrooy spectacularly took out his frustration on Sparta Prague. Four goals from the Dutchman, coupled with a formidable display from the lithe Portuguese express train that is Cristiano Ronaldo, gave Manchester United a stylish push towards the knockout phase of the Champions League.
‘United had been in the mood from the off, unleashing all their pace and imaginative passing on an outclassed Sparta. If Van Nistelrooy was playing the executioner, the scaffold was erected by Ronaldo, whose acceleration, control and ability to change direction suddenly utterly bamboozled the visitors.
‘With Ryan Giggs ostensibly hamstrung (although still on the bench), Ronaldo provided a willing outlet on the wing. No wonder he received a lengthy standing ovation when replaced in the second half, the points and plaudits assured.
‘At one stage in a breathless first half, Ronaldo started a break five yards behind Pavel Pirgl, Sparta's right-back, and was five yards clear within the blink of an eye. The photographers crouching behind the nearby hoardings will have needed the fastest of films to capture the irrepressible Portuguese international's movement.
‘This was the vibrant United that Old Trafford craved. Given organisation by Roy Keane and defensive security by the outstanding Rio Ferdinand, United had the men and the belief to dismantle Sparta. Van Nistelrooy struck twice within 25 minutes, but really United could have been four clear by the break.