Sir Alex Ferguson hailed "unstoppable" Ruud van Nistelrooy as the key factor in Manchester United sealing an FA Cup final date with arch-rivals Arsenal. The Dutch striker scored twice in the 4-1 semi-final win against Newcastle.
United boss Ferguson said: "Hopefully, now Ruud will maintain his scoring form and start to notch on a regular basis. When he does do that he is unstoppable.
"The first goal was typical of him because it came out of nothing. Everyone is delighted for him."
Until Sunday, the normally prolific Dutchman had failed to find the target in eight previous outings since his return from a worrying Achilles tendon injury.
Ferguson added: "As with most strikers, when they are scoring they don't think they can miss, when they are not, they don't think they are ever going to get one.
"It has been difficult for Ruud and maybe we made a mistake rushing him back so quickly but it was a sensible mistake - if you can call it that.
"We knew 10 days' training before the AC Milan game was not enough but what do you do, keep him in the stand knowing he could score a hat-trick?" The United boss also admitted the criticism United received after the 2-0 defeat at Norwich may have meant Newcastle caught the backlash.
"Players do not like criticism and maybe that had something to do with what happened," said the United boss.
"We needed to remind everyone just what Manchester United is all about."
He added: "I never had any doubt they would come back. The ability in the squad is fantastic but you have to work in life."
Van Nistelrooy now hopes his side and Arsenal can deliver an FA Cup final worthy of the occasion.
"There is definitely history," said the Netherlands striker. "But it is a great final. What happened in the past happened but this is a separate game.
"The whole world is watching and it is important it's a good game to watch." It will be the first final confrontation between Arsenal and Manchester United since Alan Sunderland's late winner gave the Gunners a 3-2 win in 1979.
On beating Newcastle, Van Nistelrooy added: "We played very well. We dominated the game with good passing and movement - and I was happy to be on the end of two great attacks.
"It's fantastic to still fight for trophies. After this game everybody lives for the final.
"If you don't have that then the season is going to be very hard. It's the last day of the season and a chance to make it a good season."
MMIX
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Ruud was class yesterday - he definitely plays better when he has a supporting striker
