Interview: Edwin Eyes More Silverware

Name a major club competition in European football and Edwin van der Sar's probably won it. The Champions League, the UEFA Cup, the European Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup... he's got medals for them all.

Now 37, the Dutch stopper has also tasted domestic success in both Holland and England. Even so, he remains fiercely competitive and has his sights set on more silverware...

You recently committed yourself to United until 2009. Was it an easy decision?
It didn’t take me long to sign. I had some talks with my family and made sure they were all happy here in Manchester. If you get the opportunity to play at United then you want to take that and I think with the team we have the prospects are very good.

Has your body given you any indications that it wants you to quit?
[Laughs] No, not really! I had a couple of injuries in the first half of the season but that isn’t necessarily to do with age. I feel absolutely fine. I had a small groin injury over Christmas but I’ve recovered from that and now I’m ready for the last four months of the season.

Do you think you'll end your career at United?
It’s looking more and more likely that I’ll never play at another club. When I left Ajax I told the fans that I wanted to finish my career there and that was the plan for a long time. But at 34 I got the chance to play at Old Trafford and here I am competing for big trophies and part of a fantastic team. That’s not something you give away easily.

How much do you help the other goalkeepers at United?
If one of the other goalkeepers asks me a question then I’ll do my best to help them out, but my focus isn’t on preparing somebody else to take my place. At a certain point there’ll be a time when I have to quit, or maybe United will say: ‘That’s enough Edwin, goodbye!’. But until that time I want to keep performing at the top level. I’m here to be United’s goalkeeper; I’m not grooming my successor.

The defence has been solid this season. You’ve hardly touched the ball in some matches…
That’s true, but it’s important I concentrate for the whole 90 minutes - if not for me, then for the defenders. I have to keep talking to them so they stay on their toes. I yell directions or tell them to get up the pitch quickly… that sort of thing. I also need to make sure I’m always an option for them when they get the ball.

It's looking like a three-way race for the title, but is it too early to rule out Liverpool?
It’s not looking too good for them. They have three teams above them and it would take all three to have meltdowns in the last part of the season if they are to win the league. But I think they can still play a part in the championship race; they still have to play all three teams above them and they’re capable of getting good results. At this stage of the season, though, I’d say they have too many points to make up.

United’s goalkeeping coach, Tony Coton, is retiring at the end of the season. Do you have a message for him?
I’m definitely going to miss him. I’ve really enjoyed working with Tony and we’ve had a good understanding when it comes to goalkeeping. I haven’t seen too much footage of him playing but I never get tired of seeing old pictures of him with a moustache!

Can you settle this once and for all: who’s got the hardest shot?
Scholesy and Wayne are definitely right up there but there are a few big-hitters in the team. Nani’s only a little guy but he shoots hard. Some of the lads can really whack the ball but it’s about accuracy as well. Vida’s shots are wild and they all go over the top - he thinks he’s making clearances!