From his column in The Times:
I know how bad it feels to lose a cup final, so on Sunday it was great to be reminded of how good it is to win one. People can be as cynical as they like about Manchester United and the Carling Cup, but we were playing for high stakes in Cardiff. If you doubt that, just imagine the reaction if we had lost.
We had to win and our performance showed what victory meant to some big-name players like Wayne Rooney, who had never won a trophy before, and Ryan Giggs, who has won everything in the game and yet contested every ball and played superbly. There was a special buzz for me going up last to lift the trophy, although, as with watching Steve Bruce, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane do it in the past, the greatest thrill is the knowledge you are doing it for this great club.
Now we have to make sure that this victory propels a young team forward. It goes without saying that we want to be challenging for all the honours and this taste of glory can only help the process of team rebuilding, which the manager has been carrying out for the past couple of years.
If the celebrations did not last until the very late hours, it was because many of us have international matches tomorrow and not because we were blasé. It is six months since I played for my country, so it will be good to be back in the fold.
Tomorrow’s game against Uruguay is at Anfield, where I was given a hard time on my most recent appearance in a United shirt. I still believe that my goal celebration against Liverpool at Old Trafford has been blown out of all proportion and I do not think it constituted improper conduct or bringing the game into disrepute, which is why I am appealing the FA decision.
I know people say that £5,000 is nothing to a Premiership footballer, but I would have contested the fine if it was 50p. To accept it would be to admit guilt and my punishment sets a bad precedent at a time when people say that there should be more interaction between players and the fans.
