Ruud Van Nistelrooy on being terrified of that 2005 AC Milan side “I once played with Man United against Milan at San Siro, and their defense included the quartet Maldini, Nesta, Stam, Cafu, and in midfield ahead of them were Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf (the strongest man in world football). It was a terrible night for me, I didn’t take a single shot on goal. I honestly thought they would kill me if I just touched the ball!!

The Dutchman often made it look easy to score but he recalls one night in the Champions League where he was not given a sniff on goal

Recalling a Champions League night from 2005, the Manchester United legend says that he was not given a sniff of goal during his visit to the San Siro.

But it was not just the defence which left Van Nistlelrooy in awe – as their midfield were equally as effetive.

It all meant that the likes of himself, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo unable to find a breakthrough.

No breakthrough: Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy and Rooney could not break through(Image: Getty)

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They lost the round of 16 match 1-0, falling 2-0 on aggregate, as AC Milan progressed to the final.

Speaking to the Oxford Union, he said: “Italian defences were horrible to play against. They all stay behind, it’s like ‘Wow, go on full-backs, go forward a bit’. And they are having none of it. They’d rather not concede than score!

“I remember I played once for United against AC Milan in the San Siro. I didn’t get a kick.