Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken of his pride at hitting a century of goals for Manchester United.
Ronaldo has actually reached 101 after scoring twice in yesterday's 5-0 hammering of Stoke at Old Trafford.
With the rumblings of summer discontent and dreams of a move to Real Madrid set aside for now at least, the Portugal winger is committed to helping United defend their Premier League and Champions League trophies.
And, after six seasons with the Red Devils, he has enough knowledge to recognise the significance of his latest milestone.
'I feel very proud,' said Ronaldo. 'One hundred goals is a great achievement. I have 101 for this club now. This is my sixth season here so I think that is fantastic.'
After scoring 43 times last term, Ronaldo has reached nine this year, a remarkable effort given his season did not start until mid-September after an ankle operation.
( Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored 101 goals for Manchester United )
And, after six seasons with the Red Devils, he has enough knowledge to recognise the significance of his latest milestone.
'I feel very proud,' said Ronaldo. 'One hundred goals is a great achievement. I have 101 for this club now. This is my sixth season here so I think that is fantastic.'
After scoring 43 times last term, Ronaldo has reached nine this year, a remarkable effort given his season did not start until mid-September after an ankle operation.
As Alex Ferguson pointed out, none of the previous seven had been a free-kick.
Typically, Ronaldo scored two to make amends, the first swerving viciously past Thomas Sorensen even if the Stoke 'keeper should still have done better.
Ronaldo's second effort completed United's biggest win of the season so far and allowed them to leapfrog back above Arsenal after the Gunners` shock home defeat to Aston Villa.
'It is always important to win games,' said the Portugal international. 'Last week we lost at Arsenal and we wanted to change that. Everyone tried to do their best and in the end I thought we did very well. We are third in the table now and we need to go on like that.'
Aside from boosting their goal difference, United know the win sent out a signal they do not intend to fall any further behind present pacesetters Chelsea and Liverpool no matter what obstacles are put in their path.
Even without a quartet of injured stars, including Gary Neville, who is out for a fortnight with a groin injury, and Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, who will both miss England's friendly with Germany in Berlin on Wednesday, United never looked like buckling under Stoke's aerial bombardment.
The hosts were helped by Rory Delap's inability to launch his usual bullet throws due to a combination of a wet surface and the steep slope that runs round Old Trafford about two feet from the touchline.
Once Michael Carrick found the net just before the interval, it was merely a question of how many Ferguson's team would score to mark his half a century in the game.
'It was a nice strike,' said Carrick of his tenth United goal. 'I managed to turn and get half a yard and just hit through the back of the ball. It's something I would like to do more of because it would be good to get a few goals.'
If Carrick has a tenth of Ronaldo's United total, Danny Welbeck has a tenth of Carrick's after scoring his first goal for the club he supported as a boy.
The 17-year-old was still on the bench when record signing Dimitar Berbatov extended the home side's lead four minutes after the restart.
But with victory assured, Ferguson decided to give Welbeck his Premier League debut. And the Longsight-born striker duly obliged, playing a one-two with Manucho before finding the net with an unstoppable 20-yard shot.
'We see it every day in training because Danny is so talented,' said Carrick.
'It is nice for him to produce it on the big stage. His temperament is spot-on so he won't get carried away. He has got a good chance of achieving big things here.'
Local lad Welbeck admitted: 'It is amazing really. For someone coming from Manchester, to come on and score in front of the Stretford End on my debut. It is what every young boy would dream of.
'I have thought about it ever since I started playing football and I can't imagine any better feeling.'
Welbeck wasted no time in watching a replay once he got back into the home dressing room after United's biggest win of the season.
And he has assured the Old Trafford faithful he will not be getting too big for his boots.
'I have seen it quite a few times on video analysis already,' he smiled. 'But it has just made me hungry for more. There is no better experience than to play with top class players every week. I just want to improve as much as I can.
'I am sure I will keep my feet on the ground. I am quite level-headed anyway, so I will just take it in my stride.'
Ferguson will try to patch up his wounded stars ahead of next weekend's trip to Aston Villa, while hoping his fit ones return that way.
Aside from a meeting between Nemanja Vidic's Serbia and Dimitar Berbatov's Bulgaria, of particular concern to Ferguson is Brazil's encounter with Portugal in Brasilia when Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson will be involved.
'God knows what time they will get back from that,' groaned Ferguson, who will not expect to see the trio until Friday morning at the earliest.
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