Fergie salutes ‘perfect’ Ronaldo

IF Cristiano Ronaldo was in any doubt about his importance to Manchester United’s title hopes they were emphatically dismissed by Alex Ferguson’s admission of the growing expectations placed on the 22-year-old.

With 16 goals already to his name this season — including 11 from 13 league starts — Ronaldo role as match-winner is now utterly entrenched at Old Trafford and his display against Everton merely confirmed that fact.

“The first goal was fantastic, marvellous,” said Ferguson. “The thing is the boy has got everything and we are expecting goals from him all the time. I don’t know if he made a mistake today, he was absolutely perfect. It was a marvellous performance from him.

“He has always had that great confidence and temperament. He came here with that and he is never going to lose that.

“That’s a great quality he has. He composed himself for the penalty kick. He knows it is an important one and he has taken his time and won the game for us.”

Ferguson made no attempt to underplay the importance of keeping close to Arsenal but admitted he expects to make changes for Wednesday’s visit to face Roy Keane’s Sunderland, with Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves set to return.

“With Arsenal winning late in the game yesterday and Spurs missing a penalty it was really important we won to keep in their slip-stream,” he added.

“It starts the Christmas period off very well for us

“You can’t say it is a two-horse race now. December is a very important month and if we get through the Christmas period, we have two very difficult away games at Sunderland and West Ham and Birmingham at home, and are still with Arsenal we have a good chance.”

David Moyes’s disappointment was palpable but the Everton manager took much from his side’s display that he claims underlined the progress the club has made this season.

“It doesn’t really feel as though we have lost,” the manager said. “I feel today we played well enough to have got something out of the game.

“Now the next bit is to beat those top four teams if we can and I think today we are starting to show signs.

“We have now lost to Manchester United twice in the last minute. Maybe that’s a sign Everton are getting closer and I hope that’s the case.

“We were short of a midfield player today so we had to juggle things and do things differently. But I do think the squad’s good and we are getting there.”

Clinical Cristiano

Five goals which have shaped United’s season:

19 Sep: Ronaldo caps his return to his first club, Sporting Lisbon, with the winning goal — United’s 100th in the Champions League. The winger is applauded by both sets of fans.

6 Oct: Another dazzling display is far too much for poor Wigan as Ronaldo scores twice in a 4-0 romp.

3 Nov: The Portuguese winger caps a sublime United move with an emphatic finish as the champions take the lead against their old rivals Arsenal.

11 Nov: Another brace — his third of the season — ensures a routine 2-0 win over Blackburn at Old Trafford.

3 Dec: Two more goals, a typically clinical volley and a late penalty, give United another home victory over struggling Fulham.