sport news MARTIN KEOWN: I couldn't trust former Manchester United striker Ruud van ... trends now
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I respected Ruud van Nistelrooy’s talent and I still do. A brilliant goalscorer. A penalty-box predator. An undisputed winner for Manchester United.
People have been asking me about the Battle of Old Trafford on an almost daily basis for the best part of 20 years. But the context is often forgotten.
When Arsenal won the title at Old Trafford in May 2002, Van Nistelrooy stamped on my foot while I was marking him. I missed the final game of Arsenal’s season as a result and was a doubt for that summer’s World Cup.
Martin Keown celebrates after Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a stoppage time penalty for Manchester United in 2003 at Old Trafford
In December 2002, there was another stamp and I reacted by swinging an arm into Van Nistelrooy. He fell dramatically and, although I apologised for my reaction, the FA fined me.
In February 2003, his chest-high challenge earned him a yellow card and sparked yet another melee between both sets of players.
By the time the Battle of Old Trafford arrived, we had a back catalogue of altercations and I felt he had a nasty side to his game.
Over the years I’d enjoyed many honest contests against United centre forwards, including Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Dwight Yorke and Mark Hughes.
You could trust all of those forwards for a fair fight, particularly Hughes. I knew when I faced Hughes it would be a clean battle; let the
