'STABBED IN THE BACK'

Last updated : 07 September 2006 By Ed

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"I had a good relationship with Ferguson in the beginning, but when he left me on the bench for 90 minutes in the Carling Cup final.

"To me this felt like a stab in the back.

"Last season was fine for the first three-quarters, but I want to forget about the last part.

"Things with Ferguson weren't like they used to be and it became difficult for us both to work together."

He then talks about Madrid:

"Spanish defenders and midfielders play the ball along the ground far more than their English counterparts.

"When teams came to play at Old Trafford, they all set out to defend — while we were expected to play skilfully against them. But when United played away from home, our fans always expected all of us, from our goalkeeper through to our strikers, to go on the attack.

"I've had a great first impression of Real. The club has a fantastic set-up, with marvellous people, and that has been vital for me. People from the outside just see big stars and lots of glamour, but everyone I've met — from the players through to the management — has been completely unaffected.

"I want to win the Champions League and lots of other prizes and Real is a brand new challenge for me. I won four trophies with Manchester United, but I want more and joining Real has made me stronger. I feel like a 20-year-old. It is the best thing that could have happened to me. I had the chance to go to Bayern Munich, but Real is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"I'm not worried that Ronaldo is in the Real squad.

"When I joined United they had Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and people said I was making a mistake to go there. I could now end up playing alongside Ronaldo. These days I am training and playing alongside the likes of Raúl and Roberto Carlos. I can't explain how good that feels.

"Everything is so much easier with team-mates of such calibre. They pass you the ball at just the right moment and it is perfect. Can Madrid win La Liga? We have a new team, but we can definitely do it."