Boss backs Ronaldo on diving allegations

ALEX FERGUSON backed Cristiano Ronaldo in his condemnation of Gareth Southgate’s cheating allegations and insisted the Manchester United winger did not dive to win a penalty at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

On the eve of United’s make-or-break Champions League tussle with Benfica, Ronaldo got the chance to answer the criticism heaped on him in the aftermath of his controversial collapse at the Riverside which earned the Red Devils a crucial spot-kick, even though Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer never touched Ronaldo.

Like his manager, Ronaldo feels the on-going discussion over his conduct is fuelled by his part in England’s World Cup downfall.

However, the 21-year-old clearly resents Southgate’s involvement in the row, when the Boro boss branded him a cheat.

“He (Southgate) stopped playing football last year. He needs to understand football much better,” he said.

“I was trying to get past the goalkeeper. I lost my balance and the referee gave a penalty.

“I realise people criticise me for anything I do. They love to do that ever since the World Cup.”

Ferguson branded Southgate’s comments “naive”, adding “he is a young manager, we need to give him time to settle in.”

But the Scot soon launched into an unprompted defence of Ronaldo, the player he persuaded to remain at Old Trafford following the criticism which came his way over Wayne Rooney’s sending-off in the World Cup quarter-final in Gelsenkirchen.

“It is revenge for the English press,” he said.

“They have been waiting months to do this since the World Cup.”