on the mix of past and present stars...
"It was brilliant to start the first half and see the new
players. I felt really, really old in the first half and young in
the second half. It was great to see those players back and the
reaction from the fans was amazing. It was an amazing
day."
on his emotions...
"It was difficult not to get emotional. A lot of things have
happened. I've got a great family but with those players and
fans it feels like one big family. It was fantastic."
on the presence of Cruyff and Van Basten...
"It is those people who truly love football and apart from
being there for me they love the game too so every opportunity they
want to show that. We asked them and they were ready to come over
and be here. I showed them a lot of respect down the years and this
is how they have paid it back."
on Frank Rijkaard...
"He is one of the most honest, best guys that you can have in
football. He has his heart in the right place, he is a really nice
man and if anyone beat us I would want it to be him. I was happy
for him that he won it [the Champions League] with Barcelona. When
I made my debut [for Ajax] he was there as well of course. He told
me I had a golden future in front of me and now on the pich he said
I had had a amazing career. A lot of people have said those words
and it sums it up for me, especially coming from [Rijkaard]. Over
the years he has been a very honest guy and those words you feel
they came from his heart."
on staying in England...
"My life is here in England, this has been the way for 11
years now. My four children were born here, they go to school here
and they would probably rather speak English at home than Dutch.
Basically, my life is here now."
on what he will miss most...
"What miss most? The dressing room. Every player will tell you
that the team is unique. The banter with the players, talking about
everything, it's a big laugh all the time. Ray Parlour was one
of the funniest guys. He has that typical English humour and you
need guys like that in the dressing room."
