Ronaldo paying speed penalty
Ronaldo heads to Middlesbrough today for the first time since he was branded a cheat by Gareth Southgate after a penalty box fall under littlecontact from keeper Mark Schwarzer.
Southgate’s accusations brought a terse response from Ferguson, who claimed the former England defender was ‘naive’.
However, on Wednesday, the diving label which Ronaldo appeared to have shedded, was stuck back on him when he was cautioned by Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo for tumbling in the area under a challenge from Matthieu Chalme.
Having praised the official for his handling of the game, Ferguson opted not to criticise Cantalejo for his decision.
Instead, he claimed Ronaldo’s extreme pace and trickery will sometimes count against him.
“The boy left his foot in, there is no question about that, so it should have been a penalty,” said Ferguson.
“Maybe referees are looking for him a little but that is unfair. His feet are so quick, sometimes you don’t realise, so he is going to be robbed of certain moments in the game when it is justified.”
With 16 Premiership goals to his name already this season, Ronaldo has been one of the major inspirations behind United’s drive for the title.
And the good news for United is that he is likely to be around for some time yet.
Despite fevered speculation about a summer move to either Real Madrid and Barcelona, the 22-year-old has again confirmed he is happy to remain in Manchester.
In a personal website column, the former Sporting Lisbon star has highlighted his desire to play in Spain at some point in the future but claimed his immediate priority is to stay with United, win titles and enter the ‘folklore’ of the club.
“Why should Cristiano want to go anywhere else?” said Ferguson. “He is at the right club and he wants to stay.
“We have been negotiating for a few weeks now and hopefully we can reach an agreement because the boy has been fantastic for us.”
Ferguson’s thoughts were only echoed by chief executive David Gill.
“You never like to put a deadline on these matters but I am sure it will happen in the fullness of time,” Gill insisted.
“He quite rightly recognises we have been very supportive and instrumental in his career. We want him to stay and I think it is a positive thing that every other week he is playing in front of 76,000 people in a stadium that is one of the best in the world.”
Ronaldo is certain to be a key figure at the Riverside this evening as United look to seal an FA Cup semi-final slot and again next month when the Red Devils take on AS Roma in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Although Ferguson’s side have previously encountered Lazio, it is the first time they will have met Italy’s ‘capital club’.
And, having knocked out his own fancy Lyon this week, the United boss knows Roma are an opponent to be respected.
“The great excitement in Europe is playing teams you have never played before,” said Ferguson.
“They have some great players, like De Rossi and Mancini and we are looking forward to it.”
By the time United head to Rome for the first leg on April 4, Ferguson should have striking duo Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer available again.
Both men miss today’s trip to Teesside with hamstring and knee injuries respectively, leaving Wayne Rooney and Henrik Larsson — who is making the final competitive appearance of his 10-week loan spell — to shoulder the burden in attack.
Alan Smith is likely to be on the bench, while China international Dong Fangzhou will be in the United squad for the first time.
However, it is Rooney who will be required to find the spark in front of goal.
“Wayne was not quite on top form against Lille,” said Ferguson. “He was a little bit restricted because he played with a strapping on. Also, we played him wide, which is not his best position.
“Maybe we did take a chance with Wayne but I asked him if he wanted to come off at half-time because we have such a long season in front of us and he said no.
“He worked his socks off and showed fantastic application, which is a credit to him but once we scored, I was delighted to get him off.”
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