Ljungberg

Ljungberg explains why he would never have apologised to Van Nistelrooy

Ljungberg

Freddie Ljungberg has shared his views following Martin Keown’s recent apology to Ruud van Nistelrooy, addressing the infamous clash between Arsenal and Manchester United in 2003. That heated encounter remains one of the most iconic moments in Premier League history, largely due to the confrontational scenes that erupted following Van Nistelrooy’s missed penalty.

At the time, Keown reacted by celebrating exuberantly in the Dutchman’s face, a moment that has been replayed countless times since. While it drew significant attention and criticism, it also became symbolic of the fierce rivalry between the two clubs during that era.

Earlier this season, during a punditry appearance, Keown had an unexpected opportunity to see Van Nistelrooy again. Taking the moment seriously, he offered an apology for his actions during that volatile match. It was a gesture he described as important, allowing him to address an incident from his playing career that he no longer viewed with pride.

However, not all of his former teammates share the same sentiment. Speaking with Keown, Freddie Ljungberg revealed that he would have handled the situation differently. As cited by TNT Sport, Ljungberg explained his position candidly:

“I’ve seen some of your interviews afterwards and you apologised. I would have never apologised for what happened.”

He further added: “When you did that, by the way, I felt – I never said this on TV – but that we stood up for ourselves.”

Nistelrooy Keown
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

While it has been over two decades since that confrontation took place, the incident continues to spark debate. For Keown, offering an apology was an act of maturity, a way to move on from a moment he admits does not reflect the kind of sportsmanship he values. His willingness to acknowledge that and make amends speaks volumes about his personal growth.

On the other hand, Ljungberg’s stance is a reminder that perspectives on such moments differ greatly. For some, that confrontation symbolised resilience and unity in the face of adversity. His refusal to apologise reflects a belief that Arsenal’s players were merely standing their ground during an intense rivalry.

Both viewpoints provide insight into how former professionals continue to reflect on defining moments in their careers, shaped by personal values and individual interpretations.

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Tags Freddie Ljungberg Martin Keown Ruud van Nistelrooy

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  1. I don’t blame Freddie for not wanting to apologise, after having being punched in the stomach by horse face during our title winning game at Old Trafford in 2002 !

      1. The horse face punch on Freddie was the night we won the PL at Old Trafford in May ’02, after horse face came on as a sub.

        The dive by Pires was in the Invincible season.

        Do keep up chav.

        1. Yeah I didn’t read that
          I was talking about the game the article refers too
          Hence why I asked did Pires dive against Portsmouth then clarified are you talking about the same game that Freddie is talking about lol

                1. I find stuff like this fascinating
                  So go on ….in your imagination who have I made a fool out of myself too ?

                  My friends ?
                  My family ?
                  My work peers lol ?

                  Who have I embarrassed myself too because …..wait for it peeps ….I only read the article lol
                  Who in your world I made a fool out of myself too ?
                  Some strangers behind a keyboard lol.

                  Stupendous as usual lol

                    1. The strangers ?
                      Lol
                      Do you think they care lol
                      Forgive me if your really young but step back and say it out loud
                      You think a stranger on a football forum has embarrassed himself because …. I read the article and commented ( correctly ) that the same season Freddie is talking about was the season Pires dived
                      And you think that’s me making a fool out of myself lol
                      You take this very seriously don’t you ?

                    2. It doesn’t matter if the posters on here are strangers or not. The simple fact is that you wrote a comment on a thread that was about the 2002 season, while your comment was about the Invincible season.

                      A little bit of advice. Try reading the comments first before joining in with something irrelevant.

                    3. Disagree mate
                      I read an article about the 2003 season so if I choose to comment on that season I will lol

  2. I’m disappointed that Martin has apologised, as horseface was one of the worst players using the dark arts – remember how he got Patrick sent off, after climbing all over Patrick and then feigning injury when Patrick reacted?

    That game was yet another example of a referee being manure’s twelfth man.

    Dan, why on earth do you keep bringing in other examples?
    Why not comment on the issue itself?
    If I didn’t know better, I’d assume you were a plant for every other club in the PL and part of the PGMOL!!, 🤔

    1. Because the suggestion was that if that Arsenal…… Implying that again that there was an agenda against us ( I assumed he meant the game in article ) so for balanced discussion it’s important to point out to younger Gooners that season Arsenal also cheated and got away it

      I can’t pretend that’s all lol

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