CR will overtaking KaKa

The two greatest players on the planet meet at Old Trafford on Tuesday - with Sir Alex Ferguson believing Cristiano Ronaldo can steal the limelight from Brazilian Kaka.

The last time the pair met, in the Champions League first knockout stage two years ago, it was mesmeric midfielder Kaka who came out on top as AC Milan won both legs 1-0, with goals from former Chelsea star Hernan Crespo.

But Ferguson believes Ronaldo, along with Wayne Rooney, have matured from kids to kings - and they can shoot United into the Final in Athens on May 23.

"On present form I would say that Ronaldo and Kaka are currently the two best players in the world," said Ferguson. "Ronaldo has been fantastic for us this season but Kaka is a great talent too.

"There are other wonderful players on both sides, like Maldini, but Ronaldo and Kaka do stand out and it has all the makings of a great European tie. The one thing I can promise Milan, though, is that they will be facing a much better team than the last time they played us.

"I think the progress my team have made since we last met in 2005 is best reflected by comparing our amazing 7-1 win over Roma with the Champions League experience we had against AC Milan.

"As far as a lot of the players were concerned they were just setting out on a learning curve in Europe. Players like Rooney and Ronaldo were not ready for those kind of nights and found it difficult against experienced, accomplished opponents. But how different they looked against Roma, the boys had become men - and that maturity has developed right through the squad."

Even without the guidance of Gary Neville, who has been injured for over a month, Ferguson has seen his stars rise to the Treble challenge.

"We don't need a natural leader like Roy Keane anymore because the players are all playing well individually and are all playing their part," said the United boss. Success brings people to the fore, that's what we are seeing now. Once you get that smell of success then that togetherness comes."

"We have a different way about us now. Roy Keane had an aggressive personality and he dominated on the pitch and in the dressing room. We looked for years for someone to replace him, but those players aren't around anymore. So we now have players who can influence the team in a different way to how Roy did it and the way we have adapted is fantastic."

Meanwhile, Kaka has revealed how AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti has warned his players not to just focus on Ronaldo.

Kaka said: "Everybody keeps on about Ronaldo but United have 10 other players and all with great quality. Ronaldo is playing well but we are not only concentrating on him and forgetting all the rest."

"That would be a big mistake and Ancelotti has repeated it to us a hundred times. We are going to go into the game having done our homework and now we have to show we have learned our lesson. Paolo Maldini has insisted that he wants to lift one more trophy and at his age his teammates do not want to let down the captain of Milan."

Read more...