Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson turned on star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy on the final day of the season after yesterday's 4-0 thumping of Charlton Athletic.
Van Nistelrooy drove away from Old Trafford in a fit of temper three hours before kick-off after being told by Ferguson he would not be in United's starting line-up for the 4-0 win over Charlton.
It is thought he was told he would only be on the bench for the game, with Ferguson instead preferring 19-year-old Giuseppe Rossi as Louis Saha's strike partner.
Van Nistelrooy's reaction seemed certain to signal the end of his prolific five-year stint at Old Trafford and any pretence the 29-year-old's future could be salvaged appears to have been swept away completely by Ferguson's damning assessment.
"There have been a couple of incidents in training this week which have concerned me about team spirit," revealed Ferguson.
"This was such an important game for us, I just wanted everyone together so I felt Ruud should be left out of the team.
"Sometimes in management, you have to make tough decisions like that. It was for the benefit of Manchester United.
"I do not need to say anything else about it at the moment. I will discuss it with the directors tomorrow and Tuesday."
Van Nistelrooy's hasty exit completely overshadowed another handsome Old Trafford win for United over Charlton, a result which booked the Red Devils' place in next season's Champions League group phase.
"We really needed this result," said Ferguson. "Getting into the Champions League directly is so important to us."
It was Saha, the man Ferguson named ahead of Van Nistelrooy for the Carling Cup final win over Wigan in February to start the renewed storm over the Dutchman's future, who started the rout, nodding home a Ryan Giggs first-half corner.
By the interval, United were three up thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo effort and Jason Euell's own goal.
Kieran Richardson added another just before the hour mark to send the hosts into the summer in optimistic mood, with Paul Scholes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both making welcome substitute appearances.
Van Nistelrooy drove away from Old Trafford in a fit of temper three hours before kick-off after being told by Ferguson he would not be in United's starting line-up for the 4-0 win over Charlton.
It is thought he was told he would only be on the bench for the game, with Ferguson instead preferring 19-year-old Giuseppe Rossi as Louis Saha's strike partner.
Van Nistelrooy's reaction seemed certain to signal the end of his prolific five-year stint at Old Trafford and any pretence the 29-year-old's future could be salvaged appears to have been swept away completely by Ferguson's damning assessment.
"There have been a couple of incidents in training this week which have concerned me about team spirit," revealed Ferguson.
"This was such an important game for us, I just wanted everyone together so I felt Ruud should be left out of the team.
"Sometimes in management, you have to make tough decisions like that. It was for the benefit of Manchester United.
"I do not need to say anything else about it at the moment. I will discuss it with the directors tomorrow and Tuesday."
Van Nistelrooy's hasty exit completely overshadowed another handsome Old Trafford win for United over Charlton, a result which booked the Red Devils' place in next season's Champions League group phase.
"We really needed this result," said Ferguson. "Getting into the Champions League directly is so important to us."
It was Saha, the man Ferguson named ahead of Van Nistelrooy for the Carling Cup final win over Wigan in February to start the renewed storm over the Dutchman's future, who started the rout, nodding home a Ryan Giggs first-half corner.
By the interval, United were three up thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo effort and Jason Euell's own goal.
Kieran Richardson added another just before the hour mark to send the hosts into the summer in optimistic mood, with Paul Scholes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both making welcome substitute appearances.
