Fergie ready to revise Ronaldo goal bet

Alex Ferguson has vowed to wriggle out of a debt to Cristiano Ronaldo after the Manchester United winger fired his third successive festive double to send the Red Devils six points clear at the Barclays Premiership summit.

Ferguson had a pre-season wager with the Portugal international, who he has challenged to get 15 goals for United this season.

The 21-year-old’s club tally now stands at 12 following the brace which destroyed the brave resistance of 10-man Reading at Old Trafford, with every indication there are many more to come.

However, it does not appear Ferguson has any intention of paying up, judging by his reaction to Ronaldo’s latest sensational efforts.

“He thinks I will owe him some money but I am going to change the bet when he gets to 15,” laughed the United boss.

“I can do that because I am the manager.”

In truth, Ferguson could not be more delighted with Ronaldo, who provided his manager with the best 65th birthday present imaginable.

After providing the cross for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s opener, Ronaldo then came to United’s rescue after half-time, by which point they had been pegged back by Ibrahima Sonko.

First, he bundled home the rebound after Solskjaer had struck a post, then he arrived unmarked at the far post to despatch a close-range volley from Ryan Giggs’ assist, whose interval introduction helped inspire United to a more effective attacking performance.

“Cristiano is a fantastic lad, and he is getting better all the time,” said Ferguson.

“He is a more experienced player now and more mature. He practises a lot and works really hard at his game and now he is getting the rewards.”

It was not an assessment that Reading boss Steve Coppell, himself a legendary United winger, was about to quibble with.

“He is a good player,” said Coppell.

“He is probably the player every manager in the league would like to have in his team.

“Old Trafford is a magnificent arena and he is dominating the action at the moment.

“It is not just the goals he is scoring but the way he is doing it. He is playing with more responsibility and is winnig friends everywhere.”

Coppell did question the first and last United goals, wondering if both were offside, although he accepted visiting teams are hardly likely to get the benefit of marginal decisions at Old Trafford.

He was equally concerned about the dismissal of Sam Sodje for a second bookable offence just five minutes after his introduction as a second-half substitute.

“It seemed pretty harsh to me,” he said.

“I saw the flag go up for offside and then the referee started gesturing that Sam had pulled Wayne Rooney. Maybe there was an element of naivety about it but it certainly made things difficult for us.”

Ferguson now sets his sights on a tough trip to Newcastle on New Year’s Day, boosted by the knowledge his side could lose twice and still lead Chelsea on goal difference.

“It has been a good day,” he said.

“We didn’t expect to be six points clear tonight but I think the best thing for us to do is look at the next game because it is a hard one.”

As a former Red Devil, there is no question who Coppell would like to see crowned champions, although he warned his old club Chelsea are not likely to throw in the towel just yet.

“In my heart I would like United to win it but I have said all along the key factors will be European football and injuries,” he said.

“Chelsea are suffering the most in that respect just now but they have the resources and finance to buy heavily in the transfer window and that is what I would expect them to do.”