The 29-year-old is leading the Premier League scoring charts for the Red Devils with 19 strikes, and wants to play every game to get the same buzz
Robin van Persie admits he is addicted to playing for Manchester United to get the “buzz” of intensity from playing in the greatest games for the Premier League leaders, and never wants to be rested by Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 29-year-old Netherlands striker has been in superb for since his £24 million summer move from Arsenal, netting 19 times to lead the league goalscoring charts and put the Red Devils on course for a treble-winning season.
And while Van Persie says some games – such as against Real Madrid in the Champions League – are more special than others, he wants to play in every match to keep his rhythm flowing and keep his side in line for the title.
“I have found out that when you play for Manchester United, every game is a big game,” he told reporters.
“There are some extra-special matches – like when you play [Manchester] City or Liverpool in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League – but the so-called smaller games are important also because winning those games makes you champions.
“Personally, I love to play all of the games. You get into a rhythm. I get used to having a game every three days and when you don’t play for a week, it can take maybe 10 or 15 minutes to get your rhythm back.
“I want to play against Reading [in the FA Cup] – I want to keep going, playing all of the games.”
Van Persie says despite the fact that United often control games, the greatest thrill he gets on the pitch is when the margins are finer and the outcome is less clear-cut.
He continued: “I love the intensity of playing for United. It is great to be involved in huge games when you don’t know what is going to happen. You get more out of it when there is a thin line between winning and losing.
“I love the buzz, the drama, the excitement. I live for that. I can’t imagine the day when I have to stop playing. I know I will miss the buzz so much.”
The mercurial striker also revealed he is ready to finish Real Madrid off after letting them off the hook last time, with two late chances going begging as United drew the first leg of the last-16 tie 1-1 at the Bernabeu.
“That second chance I had, just after I hit the bar, that should have gone in,” he added. “I mis-hit the ball. I wanted to hit it hard, but I just couldn’t produce the power.
“We won’t sit back against Madrid in the second leg – that isn’t in United’s DNA. Teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona – great teams – don’t bother whether they are at home or away.
“Hopefully we can go further in the Champions League and test ourselves against some more top teams in Europe. But first we must focus on getting beyond Madrid. The manager says that is an acid test for us and he is right.
“The way this season is going, it feels like it could be very, very special. I am playing in games that are the greatest you can play in.”