Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher reckons Edwin van der Sar’s
refusal to come out of international retirement is justified.
The Manchester United keeper failed to respond to Bert van
Marwijk’s call to help the national team and Fletcher revealed van
der Sar was "tempted" but decided against a return to the
international stage during a recent conversation.
“He did mention it, he mentioned that he’d been asked to go
back,” said Fletcher. “But I think he made his decision that he
came back to help them not long ago.
"I think he made his decision to retire and you’ve seen his
performances this season, that it maybe has been justified.
“In that he’s not still really young, he doesn’t really need
internationals, he’s prolonging his club career by doing that and
that is what he feels he has to do at this stage in his career.
“So, I think that although he was tempted, he decided not
to.
“I don’t know if the manager [Sir Alex Ferguson] has had a word
in his ear as well because he’s playing against Scotland or whether
he felt sorry for me or anything like that.
“But he made the decision not and I would like to think it’s
good for Scotland.”
However, Fletcher thinks it was an easy decision for his United
colleague because of his very impressive international career to
date.
He added: “I think it’s different for Edwin van der Sar because
he something like 120-odd caps or whatever it is and broke
records.
“He’s played in many major competitions for Holland and he this
decision to prolong his club career - he would leave out his
international career and give his body a rest and give his mind a
rest
“He probably was tempted but I think he realises that Manchester
United are playing at a high level and he wants to be ready and
ready for Manchester United which is good for us.”