JOHAN CRUYFF has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo and his Manchester United team-mates for producing the best example of "total football" he's seen in years.
It was Cruyff's Ajax and Holland sides of the Seventies who perfected the style of attacking from all areas of the field.
Now he believes the current United team are capable of producing similar thrills.
In the wake of their 7-1 Champions League demolition of Roma, Cruyff said: "I was on the edge of my seat. It was onetouch, total football. It was absolutely breathtaking.
"They produced such fantastic attacks. United are strong candidates to win the Champions League now.
"Ronaldo is a natural. He gives United exactly what truly great teams need.
"He can dribble with the ball, but most dribblers play at a slower tempo. Ronaldo can dribble and show blistering pace at the same time. That's a rare combination."
And the speed United showed on the counter-attack against Roma was singled out by Cruyff for special praise.
"The most fantastic thing about the way United played against Roma was that the Italians were even beaten at their own game," he said.
"Usually the Italians are the team who want to counterattack.
But within 18 minutes United had scored three times by going straight for goal when Roma had lost possession in United's half.
"The Italians were second best in every area of the pitch. Everything the United players touched turned into gold. It was a joy to watch."
With three English clubs through to the semi-finals of the Champions League, there are understandable claims that the Premiership is now the best in Europe. Cruyff suggests we wait before becoming arrogant.
"The dominance of English clubs in the Champions League is clearer than ever before," he said. "But it does not mean it will stay like that. Too often I have seen great sides change and fall.
"Only if the top English clubs can maintain this level of success for the next couple of seasons can we say that English football rules Europe. Don't forget most of the players are foreign at Chelsea and Liverpool, if less so at United.
"And that all reflects in the national team, which is struggling."