Van der Sar: Now I am going to quit!

Edwin van der Sar was having fun when interviewed right after winning the Champions League with Man United: ” Young young boys’ dream? Are you serious? This is more an old man’s dream,” the 37 year old quipped.

Van der Sar stopped Chelsea’s seventh penalty kick. He knew he’d stop it: “I know it’s easy to shout that out after the fact, but it is true. I needed my Hans van Breukelen moment in my career. I was chasing this for years and now it’s here. My second Champions League.”

The Oranje goalie won the CL cup in 1995 with Ajax and lost the finals a year later against Juventus. “Penalties as well. They were the luckiest then. Now I’ve finally got my penalty revenge.”

“With Ajax then, it seemed so normal because we were so good, back then. Now you realize how wonderful and special it is. When at Fulham I was watching the games at the highest level on tv and wondered if I’d ever made it back to the top again. And here I am.”

“Now I think I’ll quit. Seriously. I have come full circle.” And then he grinned: “Just kiddin’!”.

“I’ve got to go now! We’re going to party. I will promise van Basten I’ll go to bed in time. Monday, I’ll be in the Oranje camp, fresh and fit.”

Manager Sir Alex praised his goalie into high heaven. “We have struggled for years to find Schmeichel’s successor and we’ve found him. Van der Sar is calm, consistent and radiant in the goal. He is a phenomenan, a truly important player for us. Very important.”