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Monday, October 27, 2008
Q&A: Rio delight at World XI award
After collecting his award for being named in the FIFPro World XI, Rio Ferdinand spoke of his pleasure at gaining recognition for his work – but he says that he'd be far from satisfied to settle for his current collection of collective and personal awards…
How does it feel to be named in the FIFPro World XI?
Being appreciated and recognised by your fellow professionals is probably the best accolade you can receive. They are the people you play with. They know the game inside out. Without my team-mates I wouldn't have won this award. Obviously, we had a great season last season. I needed the help of my team-mates to get where I am. Without them I would not be where I am now. I'd say the best is still to come. A lot of my former team-mates like Iain Dowie, Slaven Bilic, Ian Wright and managers like Harry Redknapp, David O'Leary and Sir Alex Ferguson have said my best years would be after I was 30 because of the position I play in. I am beginning to feel that way.
Based on what you’ve won so far, could you look back on your career and be pleased with what you’ve achieved?
I won't be looking back yet. But if I get to the end of my career and have only won the trophies I currently have, I would be disappointed. I want to win more. I am greedy. You have to be in this sport to try and achieve anything. I want to win more. I would not be happy to just have this.
You’ve been such a consistent performer in recent seasons, what has been the key to it for you?
As a centre-half it is about being in situations you recognise yourself in. You play in so many big games all over the world over so many years. It builds experience you can lean on at times. In my position, experience counts for so much. As an attacker, your better years are a little earlier, maybe 26 or 27, because the position is so explosive. Knowledge is key for me.
Does it frustrate you that the forwards and attackers tend to get all the awards?
Everyone wants to be a striker. It is the most glorified position in the game. I just love to see people score goals. As defenders we know our worth. We don't need to shout it from the roof tops. It is part of the game. We have no gripes with the people who score goals getting the adulation. It is the hardest part of the game.
Ronaldo was named FIFPro World Player of the Year, what do you think to his achievement?
He has done well. He wants to learn and be the best in whatever he does, even in table tennis against me! You need that. All the top players have a winning mentality. They want to do well all the time, even in training. Last season and the season before he was faultless. He had an end product and was doing things other people cannot do. We have won back-to-back Premier League titles and the European Cup. He played a big part in that.
Last season’s successes were incredible; what are the chances of achieving that again?
It is realistic to think we could do it again. We have fantastic players. We have added Dimitar to the squad, who is a fantastic player. We have a very talented squad if everyone stays fit. The Champions League is something we would really like to retain and make history. The gauntlet is laid down for us to do it because it has never been done. Winning the Premier League three times on the bounce, no-one has done better than that. The incentives are there. We could make history. It will be hard but that is what being at a club like Manchester United is about. We want to win.
Rio was speaking to PA Sport and ManUtd.com.
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How does it feel to be named in the FIFPro World XI?
Being appreciated and recognised by your fellow professionals is probably the best accolade you can receive. They are the people you play with. They know the game inside out. Without my team-mates I wouldn't have won this award. Obviously, we had a great season last season. I needed the help of my team-mates to get where I am. Without them I would not be where I am now. I'd say the best is still to come. A lot of my former team-mates like Iain Dowie, Slaven Bilic, Ian Wright and managers like Harry Redknapp, David O'Leary and Sir Alex Ferguson have said my best years would be after I was 30 because of the position I play in. I am beginning to feel that way.
Based on what you’ve won so far, could you look back on your career and be pleased with what you’ve achieved?
I won't be looking back yet. But if I get to the end of my career and have only won the trophies I currently have, I would be disappointed. I want to win more. I am greedy. You have to be in this sport to try and achieve anything. I want to win more. I would not be happy to just have this.
You’ve been such a consistent performer in recent seasons, what has been the key to it for you?
As a centre-half it is about being in situations you recognise yourself in. You play in so many big games all over the world over so many years. It builds experience you can lean on at times. In my position, experience counts for so much. As an attacker, your better years are a little earlier, maybe 26 or 27, because the position is so explosive. Knowledge is key for me.
Does it frustrate you that the forwards and attackers tend to get all the awards?
Everyone wants to be a striker. It is the most glorified position in the game. I just love to see people score goals. As defenders we know our worth. We don't need to shout it from the roof tops. It is part of the game. We have no gripes with the people who score goals getting the adulation. It is the hardest part of the game.
Ronaldo was named FIFPro World Player of the Year, what do you think to his achievement?
He has done well. He wants to learn and be the best in whatever he does, even in table tennis against me! You need that. All the top players have a winning mentality. They want to do well all the time, even in training. Last season and the season before he was faultless. He had an end product and was doing things other people cannot do. We have won back-to-back Premier League titles and the European Cup. He played a big part in that.
Last season’s successes were incredible; what are the chances of achieving that again?
It is realistic to think we could do it again. We have fantastic players. We have added Dimitar to the squad, who is a fantastic player. We have a very talented squad if everyone stays fit. The Champions League is something we would really like to retain and make history. The gauntlet is laid down for us to do it because it has never been done. Winning the Premier League three times on the bounce, no-one has done better than that. The incentives are there. We could make history. It will be hard but that is what being at a club like Manchester United is about. We want to win.
Rio was speaking to PA Sport and ManUtd.com.
Read more...
Ronaldo lands world gong
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named FIFPro World Player of the Year.
The United winger was presented with the award by Sir Alex Ferguson at Carrington on Monday. The 23-year-old scored an incredible 42 goals on his way to helping United reach a Premier League and Champions League Double.
"To be recognised by my fellow players is amazing," he said. "I would like to thank my team-mates and coaches and everyone involved at United and the national team, as well as my family and friends for their support."
Reds boss Sir Alex handed Ronaldo the award and said that he hoped there were many more like it to come at OId Trafford. It’s the first of what is expected to be a string of global awards for the Portuguese attacker, who has also been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
Ronaldo was also named in the FIFPro World Team of the Year, as was his team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who collected the honours for their achievements from Professional Footballers Association chief Gordon Taylor.
ManUtd.com tagged along to see the trophy presentation, and we'll bring you more from Ronaldo later this afternoon.
FIFPro team: Casillas (Real Madrid); Ramos (Real Madrid), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (United), Puyol (Barcelona); Gerrard (Liverpool), Kaka (AC Milan), Xavi (Barcelona), Messi (Barcelona); Torres (Liverpool), Ronaldo (United).
FIFPro is the world-wide umbrella organisation for the Professional Football Association around the globe, and includes more than 40 associations meaning that thousands of players registered their votes for these awards.
Read more...
The United winger was presented with the award by Sir Alex Ferguson at Carrington on Monday. The 23-year-old scored an incredible 42 goals on his way to helping United reach a Premier League and Champions League Double.
"To be recognised by my fellow players is amazing," he said. "I would like to thank my team-mates and coaches and everyone involved at United and the national team, as well as my family and friends for their support."
Reds boss Sir Alex handed Ronaldo the award and said that he hoped there were many more like it to come at OId Trafford. It’s the first of what is expected to be a string of global awards for the Portuguese attacker, who has also been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
Ronaldo was also named in the FIFPro World Team of the Year, as was his team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who collected the honours for their achievements from Professional Footballers Association chief Gordon Taylor.
ManUtd.com tagged along to see the trophy presentation, and we'll bring you more from Ronaldo later this afternoon.
FIFPro team: Casillas (Real Madrid); Ramos (Real Madrid), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (United), Puyol (Barcelona); Gerrard (Liverpool), Kaka (AC Milan), Xavi (Barcelona), Messi (Barcelona); Torres (Liverpool), Ronaldo (United).
FIFPro is the world-wide umbrella organisation for the Professional Football Association around the globe, and includes more than 40 associations meaning that thousands of players registered their votes for these awards.
Read more...
Ronaldo lifts FifPro award
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named FifPro World Footballer of the Year. It is the first in what is expected to be a host of individual honours for the 23-year-old, who scored 42 goals for Manchester United on their way to Champions League and Premier League title glory last term.
Ronaldo had suggested last week he could do no more than he did to be crowned the best player on the planet and peers from over 40 countries are in agreement.
"To be recognised by my fellow professional players worldwide coming from over 50,000 players is amazing," the Portugal winger said.
"I would like to thank my teammates and coaches and everyone involved at Man United and the national team, as well as my family and friends for their support," Ronaldo said. "Thank you also to FIFPro for this award and for your work in protecting the interests and welfare of players around the world."
It is anticipated Ronaldo will also scoop the Ballon D'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, with the Portugal international - who has also been named in FifPro's world team of the year - keen to remain at Old Trafford for another couple of seasons at least.
''I insist that I am a Manchester United player and now I think that next year I will continue here,'' Ronaldo told Marca.
The player also claims to have learned from his selfish ways and no longer tries to beat opponents just for the sake of it.
''I have always played the way I do. It is natural,'' he said. ''If you want to be good, you have to practice, not just in training but games as well. That is my style of football.
''But I am different now compared to five years ago. Then I was dribbling but not doing anything for the team.
''Now I have more experience and I feel more mature. I do things for the team. So, sometimes I dribble, sometimes I don't.''
It seems every move Ronaldo makes is analysed and dissected to establish whether the 23-year-old is still hankering after a move to Real Madrid, but Ronaldo now feels the Real Madrid saga is not worth discussing. However, he is happy to confirm Sir Alex Ferguson as the major factor behind his decision to stay and a continuing influence on his career.
''Sir Alex has been a big inspiration to me,'' he said. ''He believed in me enough to buy me. I have learned so many things from him and I am continuing to learn because he is a great manager.
''Of course, he was the main factor in keeping me here.
''But what happened in the summer is finished. Now my head is on the club. My focus is solely on playing well for Manchester United and winning the Premier League and Champions League again.''
Ronaldo accepts emulating last term's incredible achievements will be tough, both for him individually but for United collectively.
Even halfway through the campaign, he was not thinking about the possibility he could win the Golden Boot. It was only when he continued to hear his name linked with the famous trophy that the Madeira-born star truly began to recognise what he was on the brink of.
''I only started to believe it when I scored 22 or 23,'' he said. ''Before that it didn't even cross my mind because I am not a forward. My job is not to score, so to end up at 42 was incredible.
''It is important I recognise my team-mates because without them, it would not have been possible for me to get so many.
''But I have always been an ambitious player. I try to improve every season, not because I have to prove myself to anyone, just because I want to be the best I can be.
''I am still young and if I am being honest, I did not think I would reach this level so quickly.
''But I always believed in my talent and I have learned a lot, so it made me think that maybe I would become the best player in the world.''
Read more...
Ronaldo had suggested last week he could do no more than he did to be crowned the best player on the planet and peers from over 40 countries are in agreement.
"To be recognised by my fellow professional players worldwide coming from over 50,000 players is amazing," the Portugal winger said.
"I would like to thank my teammates and coaches and everyone involved at Man United and the national team, as well as my family and friends for their support," Ronaldo said. "Thank you also to FIFPro for this award and for your work in protecting the interests and welfare of players around the world."
It is anticipated Ronaldo will also scoop the Ballon D'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, with the Portugal international - who has also been named in FifPro's world team of the year - keen to remain at Old Trafford for another couple of seasons at least.
''I insist that I am a Manchester United player and now I think that next year I will continue here,'' Ronaldo told Marca.
The player also claims to have learned from his selfish ways and no longer tries to beat opponents just for the sake of it.
''I have always played the way I do. It is natural,'' he said. ''If you want to be good, you have to practice, not just in training but games as well. That is my style of football.
''But I am different now compared to five years ago. Then I was dribbling but not doing anything for the team.
''Now I have more experience and I feel more mature. I do things for the team. So, sometimes I dribble, sometimes I don't.''
It seems every move Ronaldo makes is analysed and dissected to establish whether the 23-year-old is still hankering after a move to Real Madrid, but Ronaldo now feels the Real Madrid saga is not worth discussing. However, he is happy to confirm Sir Alex Ferguson as the major factor behind his decision to stay and a continuing influence on his career.
''Sir Alex has been a big inspiration to me,'' he said. ''He believed in me enough to buy me. I have learned so many things from him and I am continuing to learn because he is a great manager.
''Of course, he was the main factor in keeping me here.
''But what happened in the summer is finished. Now my head is on the club. My focus is solely on playing well for Manchester United and winning the Premier League and Champions League again.''
Ronaldo accepts emulating last term's incredible achievements will be tough, both for him individually but for United collectively.
Even halfway through the campaign, he was not thinking about the possibility he could win the Golden Boot. It was only when he continued to hear his name linked with the famous trophy that the Madeira-born star truly began to recognise what he was on the brink of.
''I only started to believe it when I scored 22 or 23,'' he said. ''Before that it didn't even cross my mind because I am not a forward. My job is not to score, so to end up at 42 was incredible.
''It is important I recognise my team-mates because without them, it would not have been possible for me to get so many.
''But I have always been an ambitious player. I try to improve every season, not because I have to prove myself to anyone, just because I want to be the best I can be.
''I am still young and if I am being honest, I did not think I would reach this level so quickly.
''But I always believed in my talent and I have learned a lot, so it made me think that maybe I would become the best player in the world.''
Read more...
Ronny: Sir Alex is my inspiration
Cristiano Ronaldo has described Sir Alex Ferguson as his “inspiration” after winning the FIFPro World Player of the Year award - and says the United boss is the “main factor” why is still at the club.
Ronaldo, speaking after being voted the best player in the world by his peers, paid tribute to the influence Sir Alex has had on his career – from spotting him playing for Sporting Lisbon, to signing him and giving him the freedom to develop his talent to the fullest.
“Sir Alex has been the big inspiration to me,” he said. “I am here because of him. When he saw me playing for Sporting Lisbon against Manchester United, he believed in me enough to buy me. I've been here for five years. I've learned many things from him and I'm continuing to learn. He is a great manager. He has won everything in the game.”
A summer of intense speculation saw Ronaldo heavily linked with a move to Spanish side Real Madrid. But a meeting with Sir Alex resulted, at least on United’s part, in a line being drawn under the matter.
“Of course, [Sir Alex] was the main factor for keeping me here,” he added. “But what happened in the summer is finished. My head is focused on the club. My focus is solely on playing well for Manchester United and winning the Premier League and Champions League again. The summer is finished. My head is always here in the club.”
Some in the media have still sought to analyse every gesture or facial expression in a negative way. “If I smile it is because I smile. If I don't it’s because I don't,” he explains. “People are always writing things about me. It is up to them; for me it is not a problem. I will just try to play well and do my best. I am just focused on playing good football.”
Ronaldo’s attention is also on winning trophies with United as well as the many person awards he is rapidly accumulating. Equalling last year’s tally of 42 goals will be a tall order this term, but the Portuguese winger isn’t targeting figures.
“I am an ambitious player,” he added. “I try to improve every season. I know last year was magnificent. I played really well, I scored so many goals and we won major trophies. It is possible this season. But my priority is not only to score goals. I don't have to do that. I just have to play well for the team. I want to do the same as last season. I don't need to prove anything to anyone. I just want to keep proving to myself that I am a good player.”
Read more...
Ronaldo, speaking after being voted the best player in the world by his peers, paid tribute to the influence Sir Alex has had on his career – from spotting him playing for Sporting Lisbon, to signing him and giving him the freedom to develop his talent to the fullest.
“Sir Alex has been the big inspiration to me,” he said. “I am here because of him. When he saw me playing for Sporting Lisbon against Manchester United, he believed in me enough to buy me. I've been here for five years. I've learned many things from him and I'm continuing to learn. He is a great manager. He has won everything in the game.”
A summer of intense speculation saw Ronaldo heavily linked with a move to Spanish side Real Madrid. But a meeting with Sir Alex resulted, at least on United’s part, in a line being drawn under the matter.
“Of course, [Sir Alex] was the main factor for keeping me here,” he added. “But what happened in the summer is finished. My head is focused on the club. My focus is solely on playing well for Manchester United and winning the Premier League and Champions League again. The summer is finished. My head is always here in the club.”
Some in the media have still sought to analyse every gesture or facial expression in a negative way. “If I smile it is because I smile. If I don't it’s because I don't,” he explains. “People are always writing things about me. It is up to them; for me it is not a problem. I will just try to play well and do my best. I am just focused on playing good football.”
Ronaldo’s attention is also on winning trophies with United as well as the many person awards he is rapidly accumulating. Equalling last year’s tally of 42 goals will be a tall order this term, but the Portuguese winger isn’t targeting figures.
“I am an ambitious player,” he added. “I try to improve every season. I know last year was magnificent. I played really well, I scored so many goals and we won major trophies. It is possible this season. But my priority is not only to score goals. I don't have to do that. I just have to play well for the team. I want to do the same as last season. I don't need to prove anything to anyone. I just want to keep proving to myself that I am a good player.”
Read more...
Duo quash rumours over future
Manchester United were given a double boost on Sunday with news that Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez are both fully committed to the club. Ronaldo was at the centre of this summer's longest-running transfer saga as Real Madrid sought to prise the Portugal international away from United, while Tevez's struggle so far this season to gain a first-team place has fuelled speculation he might seek a move. But both players have indicated they see at least their immediate future at Old Trafford. When asked where he was going to play next season, Ronaldo said in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca: "Only God knows the future. I insist that I am a Manchester United player and now I think that next year I will continue here. I am with Manchester United body and soul." Argentina forward Tevez is on a two-year loan at Old Trafford which expires next summer.Tevez's long-time adviser Kia Joorabchian has insisted that does not mean he wants to leave. "Carlos Tevez is not going to be sold in January," he said. "He plans to stay until the end of the season and talk to Manchester United then. He has a great relationship with Manchester United. There have been absolutely no conversations with other clubs and there won't be."
Charles Carrick, Daily Telegraph Read more...
Charles Carrick, Daily Telegraph Read more...
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