To deflect some of the stick that normally comes his way.
It will be a close-run thing to see who gets more grief as Manchester United run out in Porto on Wednesday.
Rooney because of his red card for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho’s nuts in the World Cup quarter-final in Gelsenkirchen in 2006.
Or Ronaldo because he is Ronaldo and a former Sporting Lisbon player.
Sunday, though, will be different, as Rooney is put through the wringer by Evertonians in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
What United have to be this week IS united. And never more than in their support of Ronaldo.
For if both management and supporters are not 100 per cent behind him, not only will their defence of the Champions League come to an end in the Estadio do Dragao but they will drive him even further into the warm embrace of Real Madrid.
Especially after the news last week that United’s debt has now reached £700million.
Alex Ferguson’s veiled criticism of his superstar — giving the ball away in particular — has probably been overplayed.
But there is no escaping the general muttering around Old Trafford in the past few weeks that Ronaldo has gone off the boil.
Well, how long did United punters actually expect him to be steaming away like a household kettle?
He cannot score 30 to 40 goals every season. He cannot get United out of a hole every weekend.
OK, he did not play particularly well against Aston Villa but he still scored two of his side’s three goals.
And, no, nor did he have his best game against Porto. Yet all we hear is how he lost possession against both sides in the build-up to goals — despite the fact there were more pivotal errors after his own.
Has anyone actually been studying Nemanja Vidic recently? How his form has dipped dramatically? How he has also been giving the ball away? And Jonny Evans? And John O’Shea? And Gary Neville? And Patrice Evra? How Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick have hardly stepped up to the plate, either? And then there is Dimitar Berbatov.
Now here we have a player who really is disinterested and sulking, two of the charges levelled at Ronaldo. Just 13 goals in 35 games and 10 in the last 28, Berbatov has proved a massive letdown.
Ronaldo, by comparison, has 20 in all, 10 in the last 17 and is joint-top Premier League scorer with Nicolas Anelka. Yet he is the one who gets most of the aggravation.
For one reason. Because even more, maybe, than Rooney, his standards are so much higher.
Well, he is going to need all the support he can get on Wednesday.
Just over three years ago, United were beaten 2-1 by Benfica in Lisbon to finish bottom of their Champions League qualifying group.
Ronaldo was mercilessly taunted by his former club’s arch-enemies.
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The winger reacted with a petulant kick that earned him a booking and then, as Benfica came back from a goal down to lead 2-1, missed a good chance for the equaliser.
He was eventually subbed to the huge delight of the home crowd.
He can expect more of the same in a game United will probably have to win to reach the semi-finals — outside of 3-3 or 2-2 and penalties.
The task is not made any easier by Porto’s home record against English sides — P12, W5, D7, L0. Yet they are far from unbeatable. Dynamo Kiev won 1-0 at the Estadio do Dragao only last October.
If United are to survive, they will have to produce their best away form at a time when they are struggling and in a season where they have won just one away Champions League game — 3-0 in Aalborg.
Their best chance is if Ronaldo is in the right frame of mind.
And, recalling Roy Keane’s red card for stamping on Porto keeper Vitor Baia the last time they were there, if they all stay on the pitch.
thesun.co.uk
Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to meet up with the fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt, in a bid to become even quicker.
The news is likely to instil further fear into Premier League defenders who already struggle to cope with the Portuguese international’s pace and trickery.
According to the Independent on Sunday, Bolt is a huge Ronaldo fan and will meet up with the player in the summer with a view to improving his sprinting.
The 22-year-old Jamaican will be in Europe for the World Championships, which take place in Berlin in August, and will take time out to give Ronaldo some pointers.
His manager, Ricky Simms, confirmed that the meeting between the two superstars will take place.
“It’s definitely going to happen,” said the Irishman. “We’ll sort something out this summer when Usain comes to Europe.”
The Jamaican stunned the world last summer at the Beijing Olympics when he won three gold medals, in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 x 100 metres relay, smashing all three world records in the process.
The Independent on Sunday reports that Bolt is a huge football fan and that the proposed meeting between the two came about when he asked Ronaldo for a signed shirt for his collection.
The Man United winger was apparently happy to comply with the request, in return for sprinting lessons from the world’s fastest man.
Gill Clark, Goal.com
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric has admitted today that he cannot stand the “theatrics” of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The pair came face-to-face in the League Cup final on Sunday and the Manchester United winger was booked for diving on that occasion.
Croatian midfielder Modric has told Sportske Novosti that, even though he respects the Portugal star, he is not a fan of his diving.
“Ronaldo is a fantastic player and I do not have anything against him, but I cannot stand his theatrics,” he declared.
“In England, it is a man’s game and his continuous complaints and dives have a negative effect. I do not know why he needs to do it all the time.”
The Real Madrid target has received plenty of bad press in the past for his theatrics but he does not seem to be cleaning up his game completely.
Ronaldo was one of the men who stepped up to score a penalty for United in the League Cup final, whilst Modric declined the chance to take one for Spurs.
Following his failure in the European Championships last summer, he admitted that it is a problem for him.
“I need to get over the fear,” the Croatian international explained. “I do not want taking penalties to become a continuous problem for me.”
James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com
In just 465 days Cristiano Ronaldo may well get his expressed wish of visiting South Africa should Portugal qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
The Manchester United and Portugal star was talking to Kick Off editor Neil Greig at Old Trafford, Manchester during the launch of Nike’s Mercurial Vapor Superfly boot.
Asked whether he had been to Mzansi and what he knew about the country, the winger said: “Last season Manchester United went there and the lads say it is an unbelievable place to go. I hope to go there one day too.”
Speaking right at the end of what was an interesting 40 minute press conference, Ronaldo looked more comfortable and relaxed than when he first walked in, joking and smiling relaxedly by the end of proceedings.
“I know quite a few parts of the world, but not South Africa. I wish to go there one day,” he said, perhaps identifying with the majority of South Africa’s children, having also spent a large part of his youth playing street football in Madeira, Portugal.
His message to South African kids who want to emulate his journey from the street to the glittering heights of an international career is a simple one. “I started to play sometimes in Madeira in the street. The kids there still love to play football and all would love to be professional footballers one day,” he explains.
“What the kids (in South Africa) have to do is believe in themselves and try all the time. Everyone has an opportunity and if someone catches the opportunities it is very good. But believe is the best word.”
Goal.com
Cristiano Ronaldo believes that Manchester United are well capable of capturing all five trophies on their hit-list this season, after a triumphant visit to Wembley on Sunday afternoon ended with them adding the League Cup to the World Club Cup that they collected in Japan prior to Christmas.
The Red Devils won the title by beating Tottenham Hotspur on penalties after an energy-sapping 120 minutes of goalless yet gripping action, with goalkeeper Ben Foster, normally the understudy to the awesome Dutchman Edwin van der Sar, stepping up to make crucial saves to keep the game goalless, as well as keeping out Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara’s spot-kick in the shoot-out.
And United’s Portuguese superstar is confident that he and his team-mates have what it takes to collect a ‘clean sweep’ of silverware this campaign.
“It is quite difficult to achieve but we are going from game to game,” he told English tabloid The Sun, after the game.
“We always have the opportunity to win everything. We’ve won this cup and now we don’t have much time to celebrate.”
United are seven points clear in the Premier League, face Fulham in the quarter-final of the FA Cup, and their Champions League tie with Inter of Italy is deadlocked at 0-0 after the first leg in Milan last week.
Zack Wilson, Goal.com
Manchester United defeated Spurs on penalties in Wembley to claim the seasons first major trophy. Ben Foster turned out to be the hero after a season where his future at Old Trafford was often questioned. In a tactical game where defences dominated chances were at a premium and it came as no surprise to anyone to see the game go into extra time and on to penalties.
With both sides naming attacking line-ups the game looked set up to be an open affair. The talking points about both sides were answered as Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp handed in their teams.
Spurs went with two up front, Johnathan Woodgate missing out after picking up an Achilles tendon injury in training yesterday, Wayne Rooney was also a surprise omission after he contracted a virus and both managers now have the headache that these vital players could be out for a couple of games.
United dominated the early proceedings, Ronaldo going close with a couple of long range efforts. Spurs best chances coming from the right hand side combination of Aaron Lennon and Vedran Corluka. The two Spurs players combined on a number of occasions to get in behind the United back four, and only timely interventions by Rio Ferdinand denied Spurs an opening goal.
The game was end to end without either side really creating anything worthwhile. United had the lions share of possession but Danny Wellbeck looked out of his depth as Michael Dawson and Ledley King snuffed out all of the Red Devils central attacks.
It was a case of the same at the other end, Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko’s partnership was not living up to all that Harry Redknapp had hoped, and with Spurs not having any recognised strikers on the bench the duo would have to mesh if Spurs were to have any chance of winning this game.
Johnny Evans looked assured under the threat of the two Tottenham internationals and really looks as if he could have a big future at Old Trafford and could be future competition for Ferdinand as they vie to partner Nemanja Vidic.
The second half started off in much the same vein as the first, United came out of the blocks the quickest and in a repeat of his early first half free kick he fired another high and wide.
Minutes later Roman Pavlyuchenko outdid Ronaldo with a free kick that would have gone down well in the six nations rugby internationals over the weekend.
On 55 Alex Ferguson tried to change things around as the game slipped further into becoming a stalemate. Brazillian Anderson came on for the ineffectual Danny Wellbeck as United reshuffled.
United began to push on with an extra man in midfield, and should have scored when Evans misdirected shot from a corner should have been forced home by Tevez who could only help the ball wide.
At the other end Luka Modric was whipped down by John O’Shea who was lucky not to pick up his second yellow card. And moments later the Croatian’s improvised cross set up Darren Bent beautifully but his effort was poor and went well wide.
Harry Redknapp sent on Jamie O’Hara in place of Roman Pavlyuchenko to battle United’s domination in midfield, and the move almost backfired immediately. Cristiano Ronaldo sprinted inside Assou-Ekotto and as he looked to pass to Scholes Ledley King slid in to tackle.
Luckily for Spurs Referee Chris Foy read the tackle wrong and booked Ronaldo for diving. Previous indiscretions coming back to haunt the Portuguese.
Ben Foster pulled off the first real save of the match with 20 minutes to go. Lennon found himself in acres of space on the right hand side of the box and fired at the United stopper, the young keeper more than equal to the effort.
With the game drifting towards extra time and both teams looking like they had settled for another half hour, Ronaldo burst into the Tottenham box. His left footed effort cannoned off the post with Heurelho Gomes at full stretch, as the effort rebounded across the goal Nani reacted quickest but he could only guide the ball wide as extra time loomed.
Gareth Bale took to the pitch in place of the tired Jermaine Jenas and Spurs fans could have been forgiven for questioning Redknapp’s judgement. In 24 games against Premiership opposition Bale had never finished on a winning side…
Things got worse for Spurs moments later as Aaron Lennon pulled up with a calf injury and the much maligned David Bentley took to the pitch with his future at Spurs still very much in the balance.
Extra time was pretty much a non event. Neither side really created much and it was an added period that sapped the legs of both sets of players as they face into difficult fixtures over the coming weeks.
And on to penalties.
Heurelho Gomes looked at ease while he was warming up and the first United player to face him was the Premierships longest serving player Ryan Giggs. Gomes went the right way but Giggs’ kick was well place and went in off the post.
Jamie O’Hara was up first for Spurs and his poorly placed penalty was easily saved by Ben Foster, advantage to United.
Carlos Tevez and Vedran Corluka both exchanged goals before Cristiano Ronaldo sent Gomes the wrong way with an expertly taken spot kick.
The writing was on the wall for Spurs when David Bentley walked up and he dragged the ball wide.
Anderson had the task of winning the game for United and his confidant penalty gave Gomes no chance.
In truth the game was a poor affair, there was very little between the two teams and United’s win puts them well on course to claim an unprecedented four trophies in one season.
Man Utd: Foster(6), O’Shea(6), Evans(7), Ferdinand(7), Evra(6), Ronaldo(6), Scholes(6), Gibson(6), Nani(5), Tevez(6), Welbeck(5).
Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson(6), Giggs, Park, Vidic(6), Possebon, Eckersley.
Tottenham: Gomes(6), Corluka(6), Dawson(6), King(6), Assou-Ekotto(6), Lennon(7), Jenas(6), Zokora(6), Modric(6), Bent(6), Pavlyuchenko(6).
Subs: Alnwick, Bale, Bentley, Huddlestone, Gunter, Taarabt, O’Hara(6).
Referee: Chris Foy (6)
{bleacherreport.com}
You can read an article and find some pics here.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has asked his ace striker Cristiano Ronaldo to stop retaliating against his opponents on the field, because the spotlight is always on him.
The Portuguese star has been involved in a number of controversial incidents of late after being fouled.
Ronaldo has kicked out at Scott Brown of the Celtic, the Spurs Michael Dawson and Stokes Andy Wilkinson. This week he had a tunnel bust-up with Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz, The Sun reported.
Ferguson said: Of course, I can understand Cristianos frustration. I can understand it all right. Hes produced little moments of displeasure at the treatment hes getting.
They have been trivial things but because it is Ronaldo, as he points out himself, it is magnified. But thats the penalty for being a great player. He has to understand that, he added.
Ronaldo will be rested for FA Cup tie at Southampton as Ferguson juggles his squad.
Striker Carlos Tevez will also be missing after being given time off to go home to Argentina. His loan deal has still not been made permanent.
And, Ferguson said United chief executive David Gill is having problems agreeing the details with his owner and agent Kia Joorabchian.
He wants the 32million pound that was verbally agreed when he first moved to the club, but United now value Tevez at less.
Ferguson said: We have been trying but its difficult sometimes with agents.
Meanwhile, United have completed the permanent signings of Serbs Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic from Partizan Belgrade for a combined total of 16 million pound.
Winger Tosic, 21, will join immediately while midfielder Ljajic, 17, will stay at Belgrade for another year. {bjp.com]
The Cristiano Ronaldo-Manchester United-Real Madrid soap opera finally looked all but over right on the last day of 2008, appropriately, after the Portuguese sensation himself publicly declared that he wanted to remain at Old Trafford.
But the feud that has been brewing between the recently crowned Club World Cup champions and the Madrid-affiliated press shows no sign of dying down, after Marca uncovered a campaign by United to ensure Ronaldo would have no reason to swap the Theatre of Dreams for the Santiago Bernabéu.
The sceptical Spanish paper believes that after manager Sir Alex Ferguson had convinced Ronaldo to stay at United in July, he ordered all those associated with the club to do two things: discredit Real Madrid’s image while continually heaping praise on the superstar Portuguese.
Marca booms that Ferguson himself has taken care of all the the bad-mouthing, while the club’s official website has spent every month since the start of the new season awarding some form of accolade or another to Ronaldo.
It would seem that Los Blancos themselves have already moved on from the whole debacle by focusing their resources on other transfer targets, but some of the press in Spain, on the other hand, are still finding it difficult to let the matter go. {goal.com}
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