Getting better and better

Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar believes Cristiano Ronaldo is being "driven on to greater heights" by the negative reaction towards him from opposition fans.

Ronaldo has been the target of the boo-boys ever since the incident in the Portugal-England World Cup quarter-final which ended with Wayne Rooney being sent off. But the winger has been in superb form this season and produced another fine display in Saturday's 3-0 win at Aston Villa which ensured Sir Alex Ferguson's side entered Christmas at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

Now he will look to help United stay ahead of Chelsea by winning successive home games with Wigan and Reading. Van der Sar said: "Cristiano is getting better and better. He is still only young but he is more mature now as a footballer. He has loads of qualities with the ball but is more aware now in terms of his positional play, the runs he can make, the other players who make runs for him, and of creating space for other players.

"I think it is his most productive season so far. He is scoring more goals and delivering more crosses. He has been excellent for us." Van Der Sar added: "I wasn't in England after what happened with Cristiano at the World Cup but I can imagine what the papers and TV were saying.

"It was a country versus country situation and you do the best for your own country. The United fans have stuck with Cristiano and I think the opposing fans see the quality he has and the joy with which he plays the game. He will get some occasional booing but that's all right. I thank that only serves to drive Cristiano onto even higher ground, to greater heights. Cristiano hasn't let what happened and the reaction affect him at all. He is a very strong guy and has shown that this season."

Ronaldo's double blast against Villa took his goal tally for the campaign to eight and Ferguson is confident he can double that tally before the end of the campaign. His demands for a greater goal return from Ronaldo have answered in a positive vein.

Ferguson said: "Cristiano could easily get us over 15 goals this season and he is certainly capable of achieving that. He is unbelievable and in great form. He is as good as anyone in the country. He is having a magnificent season for us. He shows great courage and strength."

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