Ferguson: Ronaldo must handle Premier League heat

ALEX FERGUSON has admitted he can understand Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent frustrations — but claimed the superstar winger must understand his behaviour will be heavily scrutinised.

Ronaldo has escaped censure for a series of petty indiscretions, the most recent of which came during Manchester United’s scrappy win over Middlesbrough on Monday.

Ronaldo got involved in an angry half-time confrontation with Emmanuel Pogatetz before catching the Austrian with a nasty-looking tackle in the second half.

Ferguson said he can see why certain situations occur and feels the aftermath is the price of being the world’s top player. “Of course I can understand Cristiano’s frustration,” said the Scot.

“He has produced little moments of displeasure at the treatment he is getting. They are trivial things but, as he has said himself, because it is Ronaldo it is magnified.

“That is the penalty for being a great player. He has to understand that.”

Ferguson has threatened to send a United representative to Premier League headquarters this summer to monitor the domestic fixture calendar being drafted.

Ferguson has repeatedly claimed the league has been “handicapped” this season in a bid to stop them sauntering to a third successive title.

“I have been saying for a few months we have been handicapped by the Premier League fixture list,” said Ferguson. “They tell me it is not planned but I have my doubts.

“We will be sending someone to see how it works I can assure you because I just don’t understand how you can get the fixtures like that.”

Ferguson is crossing his fingers Rio Ferdinand will be fit for tomorrow week’s Premier League title showdown with Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Ferdinand was ruled out of tomorrow’s FA Cup trip to Southampton and Wednesday’s Carling Cup semi-final with Derby after suffering back spasms before the St Stephen’s Day win over Stoke. Ferguson remains hopeful his former record signing will be able to face the Blues after more intensive treatment this week.

“We are managing it the best we can, hoping Rio will be ready for the Chelsea game,” he said.

Ferguson confirmed Serbian duo Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic will be the only new arrivals at Old Trafford this month. “That is the end of the transfer business at Manchester United this year,” Ferguson said. “There will not be anything else this January.”

At just 17, Ljajic has already made a huge impression at Partizan Belgrade.

However, Ferguson has decided to leave the teenager where he is for another 12 months, so Tosic will head to England alone.

The 21-year-old winger will have Nemanja Vidic on hand for guidance, with Ferguson confirming Tosic could make a first-team breakthrough at some point this season. “We have watched him for over a year,” said Ferguson. “He will need to get used to the tempo of our game and the training but he could play this season.”

Ferguson did not make clear whether his statement on the end of transfer business included turning Carlos Tevez’s loan deal into a permanent transfer.

But he confirmed Gary Neville and Park Ji-sung are both in line for new Manchester United contracts.