I just want to rest...

I really don't need the exams to be just around the corner. I really need some time when I can just lie in bed and do NOTHING. I need a breather....

From Manutd.com :

I'll End My Career At United - Ruud

Ruud Wants To Finish Career At United

Reds striker Ruud van Nistelrooy wants to end his playing career at Manchester United.

The 28-year-old Dutchman began full training this week after a two-and-a-half month injury lay-off, and hopes to remain at Old Trafford for the rest of his playing days.

In January 2004, van Nistelrooy extended his current contract until June 2008, a deal that expires a day before his 32nd birthday. In an in-depth interview with Soccer Digest: Best 50 Strikers Magazine, Ruud highlighted his devotion to United.

"I feel at home in a place with such strong traditions," he said. "I don’t see why I shouldn’t spend the rest of my playing days here.

"The moment I had signed my five-year contract at Manchester United," Ruud recalls of the day he signed, "the chairman at the time, Martin Edwards, took me to the boardroom where a directors' meeting was in progress."'Gentlemen', he said when he opened the door, 'may I present to you our new centre-forward, Ruud van Nistelrooy'. They all stood and congratulated me. I shook hands with all of them, Sir Bobby Charlton last of all. When he said: 'Glad you're finally here, son', I got goose bumps all over my body."

The loyalty of United's supporters and the rich history of former players and past trophy successes makes the club feel like home for van Nistelrooy.

"I drive down the A56 straight to Old Trafford," he says. "Between two church towers in the distance, I can already see the two biggest stands. When I close my eyes, I can recall that mental picture no matter where I am.

"I turn into Sir Matt Busby Way and cross the square full of fans. Whenever a player's car passes, the square bubbles with excitement. Through a crowd of thousands of people I make it to the players' car park. Every match the people are there again. And they were already there when George Best and Bobby Charlton were playing for the club."

Van Nistelrooy, who is 29 this summer, is approaching the peak of his playing career. Although he has failed to top the phenomenal 44 goals he scored during his second season – the title-winning campaign of 2002/03 – he is yet to fall below the 30-goal barrier.

It will prove a tall order to continue that record this term. Twelve goals in 14 games this season is as exemplary as you would expect from the prolific forward. But, having missed the first month of the season and another 12 weeks recently, breaking the 20-goal mark is an achievable, yet still incredible, target.The Dutchman believes his ruthlessness in front of goal stems partly from a lesson early on in his career from Ruud Gullit.

"When I was younger, I tended to want to score beautiful goals, you know. The esthetics seemed more important than the result."A funny thing happened once. Ruud Gullit did his coaching apprenticeship at one of my former clubs, Heerenveen, when I was playing there. I remember lobbing a shot that hit the crossbar and proudly looked at Gullit: 'Nice one, eh?' "

All he said was: 'It certainly was nice, but it should have gone in.' Although it was simple, he was right - he was absolutely right." Van Nistelrooy took Gullit's advice - "If you want to be a striker who performs at the highest level, every chance that can go in, should go in." – and remembers it to this day.

The striker's belief in his own ability could not be described as an arrogance, especially at the modesty he displays in showing why is considered among the world's top strikers.

"I never for a minute think things will happen naturally. Nothing comes naturally to me," he says. "I do not belong in that exceptional class of player that can operate occasionally at less than 100 per cent. I know I would not get away with that.

"I have that same drive every time. Giving less then 100 per cent is not really an option for me. As the years have gone by, I have started to take football more and more seriously. "I try to do the maximum for every match. I work hard, I train hard and I prepare myself in detail for every game. I do everything to create the perfect circumstances to perform as well as possible."

The sooner the intimidating shouts of "Ruud, Ruud, Ruud" can be heard reverberating around Old Trafford the better, and with a last 16 Champions League tie with AC Milan looming, his return is a necessity.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was speaking in an interview with Soccer Digest: Best 50 Strikers Magazine which is on sale from 3 March.Report by Ben Hibbs.