Guardian: Ryan Giggs has joined Sir Alex Ferguson in coming to the defence of Cristiano Ronaldo as the footballer of the year attempts to persuade the rest of the English game that he does not deserve his reputation as a serial diver.
→ continue reading
Sun: CRISTIANO RONALDO was fuming with ref Rob Styles - for upsetting his mum.
→ continue reading
Sun: ALEX FERGUSON believes Cristiano Ronaldo is as brave as a lion but fears he is an endangered species.
→ continue reading
Sun: KAKA has beaten Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo to the European Player of the Year award.
→ continue reading
Sun: CRISTIANO RONALDO admits he is honoured to be mentioned in the same breath as Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona.
→ continue reading
Independent: The subject of greatest squads and players has been preoccupying Sir Alex Ferguson lately as he completes 21 years at Old Trafford.
→ continue reading
Guardian: Sir Alex Ferguson’s unerring belief that Cristiano Ronaldo is “the best player in the world” was given further credence last night when the Portuguese winger scored with a sublime free-kick to confirm Manchester United as winners of Group F in the Champions League.
“It was a marvellous strike,” said a relieved Ferguson after watching his team come from behind to win 2-1 against Sporting Lisbon, Ronaldo’s former club. The winning goal came two minutes into stoppage time and Ferguson, notoriously reluctant to single out individual players for special acclaim, could not help but eulogise about the reigning footballer of the year.
“He works very hard at that in training and it was a truly excellent strike,” said Ferguson of Ronaldo. “He’s done it before and I think he wanted to do particularly well tonight because he owes a lot to Sporting Lisbon and he wanted to show them what he can do. He was brought up by them as a young boy and I think he respects that. He has great admiration for the club.”
The splendour of Ronaldo’s goal did not, however, conceal the fact that United had produced a performance that for long spells must have dismayed their manager. Sporting, with only one away win in Europe’s premier club competition since 1970, led 1-0 at half-time, as well as having a goal dubiously ruled out for offside, and Ferguson had strong words with his players to inspire a second-half revival.
“We marginally won,” he said, sounding not altogether impressed with the performance. “I don’t think we were a great deal better than them but we certainly increased our game in the second half, with more speed and more tempo, and I think we might have edged it narrowly.”
The victory spares United from a match of great consequence when they visit the Stadio Olimpico to play Roma on December 12. Ferguson’s men play Liverpool four days later and he intends to rest his most important players from the trip to Italy.
“It’s important [to finish top] in the sense that when we go to Rome I can look at using all my squad players,” he said. “One or two won’t even travel because of the importance of the Liverpool game.”
A satisfying night for Ferguson got even better when Sporting’s coach, Paulo Bento, declared that the club would be willing to negotiate with United for the transfer of Miguel Veloso, who demonstrated his ability with an accomplished performance. “I’m sure we are going to lose him,” said Bento. “Why do I say that? Because of the quality of the teams who are wanting to sign him.”
Sky: Brilliant Brazilian playmaker Kaka believes Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in Europe at present.
→ continue reading
Mirror: Cristiano Ronaldo has endorsed Sir Alex Ferguson’s belief that Manchester United have what it takes to win the Champions League this season.
→ continue reading
Sun: CRISTIANO RONALDO says Manchester United have all the ingredients to retain their Premier League title AND win this season’s Champions League.
→ continue reading
Sun: ALEX FERGUSON fears Cristiano Ronaldo may fall victim to football’s hatchet men.
→ continue reading
Mail: Carlos Tevez has learned to be daunted by few things in life, having made his way from humble origins in Buenos Aires to the highest levels of world football Joining Manchester United was different, however.
→ continue reading
Sun: CRISTIANO RONALDO has taunted Chelsea claiming Jose Mourinho’s shock exit will stop them winning anything this season.
→ continue reading
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed his intention to remain at Manchester United until he is no longer wanted.
→ continue reading
Times: The humiliation that they suffered at the hands of Manchester United last season has yet to subside for many of the AS Roma players, but, while Sir Alex Ferguson moved to quell talk of revenge from the Italian side before another potentially explosive meeting at Old Trafford this evening, Cristiano Ronaldo was less than diplomatic in rubbing salt into old wounds.
→ continue reading
Sun: ALEX FERGUSON has revealed how Wayne Rooney wants to do everything.
→ continue reading
