Ronaldo’s star on the rise, says O’Shea

JOHN O’SHEA jokes that his woeful attempts to stop Cristiano Ronaldo in a pre-season friendly helped secure the brilliant Portuguese winger his £12million move to Manchester United.

But the Waterford star is being deadly serious when he predicts his teenage team-mate is going to be a star. Just like O’Shea did 12 months ago, Ronaldo has burst onto the Premiership scene in startling fashion this season. Condemned by some as nothing more than a one-trick pony, the former Sporting Lisbon flyer’s magic is still proving too tough for even the most experienced defenders to handle and a succession of recent man-of-the-match awards suggest a starring role in tomorrow’s FA Cup final.

O’Shea got an early glimpse of Ronaldo’s talent when he tried to mark him during United’s friendly defeat in the Portuguese capital last August. So impressive was the youngster that senior members of the Old Trafford squad begged Alex Ferguson to sign him up. Tomorrow in Cardiff, Millwall may have cause to regret the United boss took heed.

“For such a young player, Cristiano’s physique and technique are incredible,” said O’Shea. “He gives defenders nightmares because he just keeps going at them. I think I got him his move to United because that night in Lisbon I couldn’t stop him.

“The people who say he is a one-trick pony obviously don’t watch him properly. That one trick they are talking about still fools defenders and believe me, he has another 10 in his locker. Apart from swear words, the language is still a bit of a problem to him but football-wise we are talking about one of the best talents in Europe. There is no doubt in my mind that he is going to become one of the biggest stars in the game.”

While most observers recognise Ronaldo’s immense skills, they will also be keen to see how the 19-year-old comes through the crucial second season when form can be affected as opponents become more familiar with a player’s attributes.

Having just come through it himself, O’Shea will be quick to offer any advice he can.

Even Ferguson has admitted O’Shea has struggled at times this season, although the defender believes most of the problem is due to the increased scrutiny his performances have attracted. “In your first season, you can surprise the opposition and mistakes are quickly forgotten,” he said. “In your second, your errors are highlighted. People know more about your game and you have to adapt.

“These are things any young player has to be aware of but the way we are brought up at United, you recognise it anyway.

“The manager and staff know exactly how to help the young players and I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”

While United’s campaign as a whole has largely been written off as a failure because of their third-place Premiership finish and early exit from the Champions League, it has provided O’Shea with the chance to complete a boyhood dream.

The 23-year-old full-back, who pocketed a Premiership winners’ medal from his first campaign as a Red Devils regular, was a regular by the television on Cup final day at his Waterford home.

Now, providing Ferguson decides not to drop Phil Neville back into defence to make room for Darren Fletcher in central midfield, O’Shea will get the chance to play in one.

He only hopes it does not linger in the memory for the same reason Wimbledon’s win over Liverpool in 1988 sticks in his own mind.

“I was only nine, but that game is the one I remember most because it was such a big shock. There is a connection between that match and this one through Dennis Wise but I don’t want is people to be talking about Saturday’s game in the same way.

“All the pressure is on us, which is fair enough because we are the shortest-priced favourites for a long time.”