Ryan Giggs has accused referees of continuing to view Cristiano Ronaldo as a diver and refusing to recognise he is a changed man.
The winger was at the centre of controversy towards the end of Manchester United's 2-0 home win over Fulham on Monday when he was brought down by Antti Niemi and booked by Rob Styles, who ruled he had dived.
Although Giggs accepted his team-mate went to ground too easily and earned a reputation as a diver when he first came to England four years ago, he insisted Ronaldo had cleaned up his act.
"I think Ronny had that reputation as a diver when he first came here, but that's gone now. But I don't know, you'd have to ask the referee about that."
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Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Maradona: Rooney's the best
Former World Cup winner Diego Maradona says Wayne Rooney is better than Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The Argentinian ace doesn’t believe AC Milan midfielder Kaka should have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, but neither does he think second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo deserved the accolade.
Instead, the Argentina legend reckons Ronaldo’s United team-mate Wayne Rooney has a far stronger claim to the title of best footballer in the world.
“I don’t know too well how the election is done, but I think that Rooney is better than Kaka,” Maradona told El Grafico.
”Milan is a team that depends all the time on Kaka but that doesn’t make him the best player in the world.”
Rooney returned to action on Monday against Fulham after almost a month on the sidelines through injury. His ankle strain suffered in training halted a run of eight goals in seven games.
Ronaldo has since picked up the baton, and with two goals against the Cottagers earlier this week he took his tally to 11 goals in his last seven starts. It is precisely that kind of form that has put him in contention – and again in competition with Kaka and Lionel Messi – for FIFA’s World Player of the Year award, to be announced in Zurich on 17 December. Read more...
The Argentinian ace doesn’t believe AC Milan midfielder Kaka should have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, but neither does he think second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo deserved the accolade.
Instead, the Argentina legend reckons Ronaldo’s United team-mate Wayne Rooney has a far stronger claim to the title of best footballer in the world.
“I don’t know too well how the election is done, but I think that Rooney is better than Kaka,” Maradona told El Grafico.
”Milan is a team that depends all the time on Kaka but that doesn’t make him the best player in the world.”
Rooney returned to action on Monday against Fulham after almost a month on the sidelines through injury. His ankle strain suffered in training halted a run of eight goals in seven games.
Ronaldo has since picked up the baton, and with two goals against the Cottagers earlier this week he took his tally to 11 goals in his last seven starts. It is precisely that kind of form that has put him in contention – and again in competition with Kaka and Lionel Messi – for FIFA’s World Player of the Year award, to be announced in Zurich on 17 December. Read more...
Ronaldo lands the treble
Cristiano Ronaldo's mum can now rest easy after her son scooped a hat-trick of awards at ManUtd.com.
After notching two goals on Monday for the 12th time in his United career, the Reds' no.7 admitted his mother sometimes asks him why he never completes a hat-trick. Now Ronny can point to the three awards bestowed on him this week by ManUtd.com.
Visitors to the website voted Cristiano Ronaldo United's Player of the Month for November, while the Portuguese international also picked up the website's Goal of the Month award and Man of the Match prize for his performance against Fulham.
It's no surprise the 22-year-old won all three honours after netting five times in four matches during November. His strikes included an important goal at the Emirates Stadium, two in two minutes at home to Blackburn Rovers and a curling beauty against Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League.
But it was another goal in Europe – his last-minute scorcher against former club Sporting Lisbon – that landed him the November Goal of the Month prize. With United and Sporting locked at 1-1, Ronaldo stepped up to blast home a free-kick from 25 yards and secure top spot in Group F and 71 per cent of the vote.
He was also an overwhelmingly popular choice for the Player of the Month award, amassing 51 per cent of the vote. Patrice Evra came in second with 16 per cent. Read more...
After notching two goals on Monday for the 12th time in his United career, the Reds' no.7 admitted his mother sometimes asks him why he never completes a hat-trick. Now Ronny can point to the three awards bestowed on him this week by ManUtd.com.
Visitors to the website voted Cristiano Ronaldo United's Player of the Month for November, while the Portuguese international also picked up the website's Goal of the Month award and Man of the Match prize for his performance against Fulham.
It's no surprise the 22-year-old won all three honours after netting five times in four matches during November. His strikes included an important goal at the Emirates Stadium, two in two minutes at home to Blackburn Rovers and a curling beauty against Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League.
But it was another goal in Europe – his last-minute scorcher against former club Sporting Lisbon – that landed him the November Goal of the Month prize. With United and Sporting locked at 1-1, Ronaldo stepped up to blast home a free-kick from 25 yards and secure top spot in Group F and 71 per cent of the vote.
He was also an overwhelmingly popular choice for the Player of the Month award, amassing 51 per cent of the vote. Patrice Evra came in second with 16 per cent. Read more...
Monday, December 3, 2007
Ronaldo delighted with double
Cristiano Ronaldo was delighted to fire United to victory over Fulham, but felt aggrieved not to complete his hat-trick after being denied a clear penalty.
The 22-year-old volleyed home brilliantly on 10 minutes and headed a second just before the hour to complete a 2-0 win for the Reds.
He looked likely to be handed a chance to seal his treble when he was brought down by Cottagers' stopper Antti Niemi after being put clean through on goal.
But referee Rob Styles opted instead to book Ronaldo for diving, much to the winger's bemusement.
"The ref took the decision and although I respect it, I don't have the same opinion," he told MUTV afterwards. "It's a penalty. If he watches the replay, he'll see that the keeper doesn't touch the ball.
"It's frustrating to get a yellow card for it, but that's the way football goes and sometimes referees make mistakes. I don't think he did a great job tonight, but the most important thing is the three points."
Ronaldo's goals were his 12th and 13th of the campaign and even though he missed out on sealing his first hat-trick for the club, he's more than happy with his current goals' ratio.
"My mum sometimes says to me 'why do you never score a hat-trick?!' But I always tell her I'm happy to keep scoring two goals," he joked.
"I'm a winger, not a striker, but my mentality is always to try and help the team, whether it is by making a goal or scoring one." Read more...
The 22-year-old volleyed home brilliantly on 10 minutes and headed a second just before the hour to complete a 2-0 win for the Reds.
He looked likely to be handed a chance to seal his treble when he was brought down by Cottagers' stopper Antti Niemi after being put clean through on goal.
But referee Rob Styles opted instead to book Ronaldo for diving, much to the winger's bemusement.
"The ref took the decision and although I respect it, I don't have the same opinion," he told MUTV afterwards. "It's a penalty. If he watches the replay, he'll see that the keeper doesn't touch the ball.
"It's frustrating to get a yellow card for it, but that's the way football goes and sometimes referees make mistakes. I don't think he did a great job tonight, but the most important thing is the three points."
Ronaldo's goals were his 12th and 13th of the campaign and even though he missed out on sealing his first hat-trick for the club, he's more than happy with his current goals' ratio.
"My mum sometimes says to me 'why do you never score a hat-trick?!' But I always tell her I'm happy to keep scoring two goals," he joked.
"I'm a winger, not a striker, but my mentality is always to try and help the team, whether it is by making a goal or scoring one." Read more...
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Ronny makes elite shortlist
United's Cristiano Ronaldo is among three nominees shortlisted for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
The Portuguese winger goes head-to-head with AC Milan star Kaka and Barcelona's Argentine prodigy Lionel Messi for the prestigious accolade.
Voting is conducted by coaches and captains of international teams, and the winner will be announced at a gala ceremony in Zurich on December 17.
The last United player to feature in the award's top three was David Beckham, who finished second in 1999 and 2001 to Rivaldo and Luis Figo respectively.
Ronaldo's influence was integral to United regaining the Barclays Premier League title, while his sustained fine form in the UEFA Champions League and in Portugal's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign also counts in his favour.
Brazilian star Kaka is widely regarded as the favourite for the award by virtue of his part in Milan's Champions League success last season. Read more...
The Portuguese winger goes head-to-head with AC Milan star Kaka and Barcelona's Argentine prodigy Lionel Messi for the prestigious accolade.
Voting is conducted by coaches and captains of international teams, and the winner will be announced at a gala ceremony in Zurich on December 17.
The last United player to feature in the award's top three was David Beckham, who finished second in 1999 and 2001 to Rivaldo and Luis Figo respectively.
Ronaldo's influence was integral to United regaining the Barclays Premier League title, while his sustained fine form in the UEFA Champions League and in Portugal's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign also counts in his favour.
Brazilian star Kaka is widely regarded as the favourite for the award by virtue of his part in Milan's Champions League success last season. Read more...
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