Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed he felt "pressured" to play for Real Madrid in their Champions League defeat to Juventus a fortnight ago.

Van Nistelrooy insisted on Dutch TV that his knee injury had nothing to do with his participation, but that he felt "very pressured by everyone" to play in the 2-0 reverse.

The 32 year-old is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines and added: "It will be hard, but I hope to be playing again within nine months at the same level as before."