carlyluvsunited
26-12-2007, 11:17 AM
Ronaldo still has much to prove
Alex Ferguson believes it won't be long before Cristiano Ronaldo will be
recognized as the world's best player. Carlos Queiroz says he will be soccer's
equivalent of Michael Jordan.
As Ronaldo's manager and chief coach at Manchester United, it's easy for them to
lavish the Portuguese star with praise.
But the rest are waiting to see Ronaldo produce something special in a game that
means something. Maybe then Ronaldo would be able to shove aside the likes of
AC Milan's Kaka or FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho to get his hands
on the top awards. Kaka scooped all the big awards in 2007 and few people,
even fans of Ronaldo, would argue.
The two legs of a Champions League semifinal against AC Milan. Portugal's World
Cup semifinal match against France. Even last season's FA Cup final against
Chelsea. Ronaldo didn't exactly set those games alight.
Kaka and Ronaldinho have something Ronaldo doesn't: Champions League
winners medals. They triumphed in the finals of European soccer's most
prestigious club competition with Milan and Barcelona, and Messi would have
collected one too if he had been fit for the 2006 final.
Ronaldo's club hasn't won it since 1999 and hasn't made it past the semifinal
stage since then.
Ronaldo scored one of his trademark long-range strikes and coolly stroked home
a penalty for United's 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday which kept the Red
Devils within a point of Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
"The boy has got everything," says Ferguson, who seems to have persuaded
Ronaldo to do fewer of his extravagant stepovers and concentrate on passing or
shooting. "We are expecting goals from him all the time and I don't think he ever
made a mistake today. He was absolutely perfect, a marvelous performance by
him."
Before the game, Queiroz was purring about his countryman.
"During my career, I have worked with some of the world's finest players like
Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo of Brazil, Raul, Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos," said
Queiroz, who had a spell in charge of them at Real Madrid.
"Yet, I can honestly say I have never seen such a football creation like Cristiano
Ronaldo," Queiroz said. "Kaka has been named European Footballer of the Year
and World Player of the Year, but in my opinion Ronaldo is better.
"Cristiano will not only become the biggest sporting attraction in England, but
also in Europe and the rest of the world,' Queiroz said. "He will be a world star in
football like Michael Jordan was in basketball ... They have both been blessed
with a genius that has never been seen before."
Right now Ronaldo might well be embarrassed to be put on the same pedestal as
the basketball superstar. If he's up there with Jordan, where does that put Pele,
Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff or even another Manchester United great, George
Best?
Ronaldo is a handful for most of the defenses he faces and Everton coach David
Moyes, whose team had gone 11 victories and two draws in its previous 13
games before Sunday's visit to Old Trafford, admitted the 22-year-old United star
always came up with something extra.
"It is very difficult to say how you stop Ronaldo," Moyes said. "In general play we
did quite well today but he just has these moments. You always think you can do
better, that you can get closer and tighter. But sometimes, when you are tight,
he is good enough to get away."
Ronaldo unlocked Everton's well-organized defense at Old Trafford where he
teams up with other eye-catching players such as Wayne Rooney and Carlos
Tevez.
Imagine how he would have fared in Sunday's Milan derby or Spanish soccer's
classic matchup between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Kaka was on the losing side as Inter Milan edged AC Milan 1-2 at San Siro and
Barcelona, with Messi sidelined through injury and Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry
struggling for form and fitness, lost 1-0 at home to Madrid.
With his dazzling footwork, long-range shooting and heading prowess, Ronaldo
would be a good addition to any of those four lineups. He is United's biggest
asset on the field. However, until Ronaldo learns to produce his best
performances in semifinals and finals, he will still see the big titles and awards
going to his rivals. www.english.people.com
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discuss all breaking news on all things United !!! Come talk to us….
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Alex Ferguson believes it won't be long before Cristiano Ronaldo will be
recognized as the world's best player. Carlos Queiroz says he will be soccer's
equivalent of Michael Jordan.
As Ronaldo's manager and chief coach at Manchester United, it's easy for them to
lavish the Portuguese star with praise.
But the rest are waiting to see Ronaldo produce something special in a game that
means something. Maybe then Ronaldo would be able to shove aside the likes of
AC Milan's Kaka or FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho to get his hands
on the top awards. Kaka scooped all the big awards in 2007 and few people,
even fans of Ronaldo, would argue.
The two legs of a Champions League semifinal against AC Milan. Portugal's World
Cup semifinal match against France. Even last season's FA Cup final against
Chelsea. Ronaldo didn't exactly set those games alight.
Kaka and Ronaldinho have something Ronaldo doesn't: Champions League
winners medals. They triumphed in the finals of European soccer's most
prestigious club competition with Milan and Barcelona, and Messi would have
collected one too if he had been fit for the 2006 final.
Ronaldo's club hasn't won it since 1999 and hasn't made it past the semifinal
stage since then.
Ronaldo scored one of his trademark long-range strikes and coolly stroked home
a penalty for United's 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday which kept the Red
Devils within a point of Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
"The boy has got everything," says Ferguson, who seems to have persuaded
Ronaldo to do fewer of his extravagant stepovers and concentrate on passing or
shooting. "We are expecting goals from him all the time and I don't think he ever
made a mistake today. He was absolutely perfect, a marvelous performance by
him."
Before the game, Queiroz was purring about his countryman.
"During my career, I have worked with some of the world's finest players like
Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo of Brazil, Raul, Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos," said
Queiroz, who had a spell in charge of them at Real Madrid.
"Yet, I can honestly say I have never seen such a football creation like Cristiano
Ronaldo," Queiroz said. "Kaka has been named European Footballer of the Year
and World Player of the Year, but in my opinion Ronaldo is better.
"Cristiano will not only become the biggest sporting attraction in England, but
also in Europe and the rest of the world,' Queiroz said. "He will be a world star in
football like Michael Jordan was in basketball ... They have both been blessed
with a genius that has never been seen before."
Right now Ronaldo might well be embarrassed to be put on the same pedestal as
the basketball superstar. If he's up there with Jordan, where does that put Pele,
Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff or even another Manchester United great, George
Best?
Ronaldo is a handful for most of the defenses he faces and Everton coach David
Moyes, whose team had gone 11 victories and two draws in its previous 13
games before Sunday's visit to Old Trafford, admitted the 22-year-old United star
always came up with something extra.
"It is very difficult to say how you stop Ronaldo," Moyes said. "In general play we
did quite well today but he just has these moments. You always think you can do
better, that you can get closer and tighter. But sometimes, when you are tight,
he is good enough to get away."
Ronaldo unlocked Everton's well-organized defense at Old Trafford where he
teams up with other eye-catching players such as Wayne Rooney and Carlos
Tevez.
Imagine how he would have fared in Sunday's Milan derby or Spanish soccer's
classic matchup between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Kaka was on the losing side as Inter Milan edged AC Milan 1-2 at San Siro and
Barcelona, with Messi sidelined through injury and Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry
struggling for form and fitness, lost 1-0 at home to Madrid.
With his dazzling footwork, long-range shooting and heading prowess, Ronaldo
would be a good addition to any of those four lineups. He is United's biggest
asset on the field. However, until Ronaldo learns to produce his best
performances in semifinals and finals, he will still see the big titles and awards
going to his rivals. www.english.people.com
Click below to join manutdtalk.com forums to read and
discuss all breaking news on all things United !!! Come talk to us….
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php