Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United Training

Manchester United boss wants Ronaldo protection

Manchester United Football Club boss Sir Alex Ferguson feels defenders are targeting Cristiano Ronaldo.


The Portugal international has bounced back from an early suspension to again find his top form, yet Ferguson believes opposition defenders are giving him rough treatment.

"Too many defenders are pursuing a policy of stopping Ronaldo by fair means of foul," the Scot told The Sun. "Some tackles on him this season have been ridiculous.

"I don't mean defenders should let him through, but I do expect refs to protect him more. Players like Ronaldo, whom fans want to see, need to be encouraged, not kicked out of the game."

Cristiano Ronaldo ignores the record

Cristiano Ronaldo insists Manchester United will not go chasing records, only the win, when they host Middlesbrough.

Another four goals for Sir Alex Ferguson's side at Old Trafford on Saturday would emulate a 100-year-old scoring record set in 1907-08 by a side which included the great Billy Meredith.

United have scored a quartet of goals in each of their previous three games against Wigan, Aston Villa and Dynamo Kiev.

Ronaldo is aware of the feat that can be achieved this weekend, but will only be going after the points against Gareth Southgate's Boro.

"Of course, if you have an opportunity to score more goals you should take it because the fans enjoy the game more and the players' confidence increases," he said.

"But I don't worry about how many goals we get, I am only interested in how many points we get. It could be half-nil for all I care just as long as we win."

Rio on a roll

Ronaldo has scored four of United's last 12 goals but he is more impressed with the goalscoring prowess of Rio Ferdinand in recent weeks.

The defender has already equalled his seasor="0" an-high of three goals, and Ronaldo observed: "I have kept telling Rio he has great qualities.

"He is tall and strong and exceptionally good in the air. I hope he scores a lot more, more than me if he can. I would be very happy if he did that."



it's good to just get the win, that's all that matters, if we can entertain and score goals great but it's not the most important thing.

They try to downplay rivalry and Ronaldo’s ‘diving’ incident

MIDDLESBROUGH have moved to diffuse their explosive relationship with Manchester United, and winger Cristiano Ronaldo, ahead of their meeting at Old Trafford today.

The clubs clashed four times last season, including two FA Cup ties, with United winning three and drawing one of those encounters.

But United’s 2-1 league victory at the Riverside in December was marred by accusations that Ronaldo dived to win a crucial penalty following a challenge from goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate publicly labelled the Portuguese star a “diver”, an accusation that ensured he fell foul of Ronaldo’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Now, with the teams renewing their rivalry, Middlesbrough defender Andy Taylor is anxious to downplay any suggestion that they have a score to settle with the brilliant United player. “It did leave a bitter taste at the time,” said Taylor. “But later, when you think about it, if it had been one of our players who did it and we scored, it would be a different matter. He got a lot of stick for that, and for diving in the World Cup, but he has shown good character to come back. The publicity could have broken a young player like him but he came back and that’s impressive. ”

“As far as I am concerned, he’s got everything – power, pace, tricks and he scores. He’s one of the best in the world. But the way I look at it, I have nothing to lose against him. He’s battered a lot of people, established internationals, so if he does it to me, what’s the difference? But, if I do well, people will notice.”

Boro visit Old Trafford hovering perilously above the Premiership’s relegation zone, with just one point from the last available 15, while United are on a run of ten consecutive victories in the Premiership and Champions’ League. “It’s daunting, going to Old Trafford,” said Taylor. “But if you go there like that, scared, they will know it and you will get battered.

“You have got to give it your best shot, we’ve got to be positive. They don’t come any better than Ronaldo and if you don’t want to play against him then you don’t want to be a footballer. You’ve got to go there with no fear, that’s certainly my attitude.”

The fixture will presumably give Ferguson the opportunity to rotate his squad, especially with the eagerly-awaited visit to current leaders Arsenal looming next week.

In the wake of the impressive Champions League win at Dynamo Kiev in midweek, United’s veteran winger Ryan Giggs has no concerns about the quality in depth in the club’s squad even if injury problems appear to be mounting.

Paul Scholes injured his knee ahead of that 4-2 victory in the Ukraine while Patrice Evra was lost in the warm-up, joining an injury list already featuring Gary Neville, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick and Louis Saha.

But Giggs said: “There was no disruption. The manager has chopped and changed this season already, whether that be due to injuries, or suspensions or whatever and we have coped with it, just as we coped with what happened in Kiev.

“It just proves the value of having a good squad.”

Ronaldo double destroys Kiev bid

Two-goal Cristiano Ronaldo sealed Dynamo Kiev's fate and virtually secured Manchester United's place in the knock-out stages of the Champions League after a 4-2 victory in the Ukraine.

England team-mates Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney were also on target as United struck four times for the third game running.

Given the abject nature of Dynamo's defending, United will be expecting to clinch qualification for the last 16 when the sides meet again at Old Trafford in two weeks time.

"We showed some excellent attacking play -- I can't ask for better," said manager Sir Alex Ferguson. "We had to do some defending in the second half, but all in all I have to be pleased with that result. We have a great team spirit."

Defender Ferdinand opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a powerful header -- his first goal in Europe -- and Wayne Rooney, with his seventh goal in six games for club and country, added a second on 18.

Ferdinand is on something of a scoring streak having found the net against Aston Villa on Saturday and also for England in their win over Russia at Wembley last month.

Rooney's effort was the perfect present for his 22nd birthday on Wednesday and saw him tap home Wes Brown's low cross to maintain his impressive run of form. Ronaldo was the architect of that effort, breaking from inside his half.

"There were some really good goals tonight, and we didn't want to be complacent and give them lots of possession," said Rooney.

"Carlos (Tevez), I thought, was brilliant. His work-rate and his touches were great. We're gelling really well, and I hope that can continue."

Ronaldo should have been protecting the post Diogo Rincon's header crept into to hand Dynamo a 33rd-minute lifeline, but the Portugal winger made up for his error when he nodded home United's third four minutes before half-time.

Had Dynamo been awarded what appeared a certain penalty when substitute Artem Milevskiy tumbled under Nemanja Vidic's challenge, the hosts might have made a game of it.

Instead, Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai ruled in United's favor and then gave the Red Devils a spot-kick, after extensive consultation with his assistant, after Goran Gavrancic had stuck out an elbow to block Tevez's 68th minute cross.

Rooney, who failed miserably with his hat-trick attempt at Villa Park on Saturday, handed over responsibility to Ronaldo, who promptly sent Shovkovskiy the wrong way.

Ismael Bangoura wrapped up the scoring 10 minutes from time and while the departure of goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar raised eyebrows not long afterwards, United coasted home.

United were without Paul Scholes who suffered a knee injury in training and Patrice Evra who hurt his calf in the warm-up.

With Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick already sidelined, Ferguson will anxiously await the results of a scan on Scholes especially as his side are due to tackle Barclays Premier League table-toppers Arsenal in the biggest game of the season so far at the Emirates Stadium on November 3.

Roma battled to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon to put themselves in pole position to snatch the second knock-out phase qualification place behind group leaders United.

Avoiding defeat in two weeks time in Portugal in the return might just be enough to ensure their place in the second round for the second year in a row.

Roma started the game with key midfielders Simone Perrotta and Rodrigo Taddei injured and they lost captain and playmaker Francesco Totti after barely half an hour to an injured ankle.

Defender Juan headed home a David Pizarro corner on 15 minutes to put Roma in front, but three minutes later Sporting's Brazilian striker Liedson levelled when he headed home a cross from Fernando Abel.

Roma took control from there but spurned the chance to move back in front just after the break as Alessandro Mancini missed a penalty.

They were not to be denied, though, and Montenegro substitute Mirko Vucinic beat two players down the left before cutting inside and scoring from a tight angle.