Van Nistelrooy: Carling Cup beginning of end

Ruud van Nistelrooy admits the beginning of the end at Manchester United was last season's Carling Cup final.

The now Real Madrid striker told AS: "Last season went well, for the first three quarters. The final quarter, I'd like to forget."

"Things with (Sir Alex) Ferguson began to break down and it become more and more difficult for us both to work together."

He added: "It's true our relationship was excellent from the outset. But in February we played in the final of the Carling Cup and I was on the bench for the 90 minutes."

"That, for me, was like a knife wound."