MU 2 : 1 Sporting......Cris has no regrets over Sporting winner

Ronaldo -- Manchester U 2 - 1 Sporting
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Manchester United match-winner Cristiano Ronaldo had no apologies this time as his stunning goal beat former club Sporting and secured top spot in Group F of the Champions League on Tuesday.

Ronaldo's injury-time freekick, his fifth goal of the qualifying phase, gave United a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.

The Portugal international had also scored the decisive goal in Lisbon last month but while he was muted in his celebrations in front of his former supporters, there was no hint of regret on this occasion.

"This was different. I have a lot of respect for them (Sporting). But they understand. This is my job and Manchester United is my club. It was a fabulous goal and I was pleased with it," Ronaldo told reporters.

"It's always important to win but it was particularly important tonight because it meant we topped the group. We didn't play well in the first half but we deserved it in the second half because we created a lot of chances."

United had trailed to a first-half goal from Abel and looked in danger of only a second defeat in 33 home European games.

But with Ronaldo in outstanding form they dominated the second half and, after substitute Carlos Tevez had equalised, secured a fifth successive win with Ronaldo's 25-yard metre into the top corner. "It was a marvellous strike. He has done it before and he works very hard on that," said United manager Alex Ferguson.

"He always wanted to do well against his old club. He owes a lot to Sporting Lisbon. He was brought up there as a young boy. He respects that and has great admiration for the club."

United's victory means they will avoid other group winners in the first knockout round of the competition and Ferguson can also rest key players for their final group game against AS Roma, who have also qualified, on Dec. 15, four days before they face Liverpool in the Premier League.

"It was important in the sense that we can go to Rome and use all my squad," Ferguson added. "One or two will not even travel. Obviously we have an important game coming up against Liverpool but I will still play a team that can hopefully win the match."

Cris face Sporting

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic are both in contention to face Sporting Lisbon tomorrow after Manchester United completed preparations for their Champions League encounter at Old Trafford.

The duo were key absentees from Saturday's shock Barclays Premier League defeat at Bolton, with Vidic particularly missed as his replacement Gerard Pique made the mistake that gifted Nicolas Anelka his winner.

Sir Alex Ferguson had suggested neither Vidic's minor back problem nor the thigh strain Ronaldo picked up on international duty last week would have eased sufficiently for them to figure against Sporting.

However, they were able to take part in training, along with a remainder of Ferguson's weekend squad.

Having registered four straight wins in Group F so far, United are already assured of their place in the last 16.

Ferguson would hope to secure top spot and a more favourable knockout-round draw, although this may not prevent him giving some of his fringe men, such as Pique, Anderson, Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson more first-team experience.

Team (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton, Brown, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evra, Evans, O'Shea, Nani, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Anderson, Eagles, Carrick, Giggs, Saha, Tevez.

PSP Cover.......Cool

Portugal qualifies for Euro 2008 ...... CR : We can win

A trio of Portuguese stars have declared that the Selecção das Quinas are in with a great chance of winning Euro 2008 after securing qualification last night...

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo has named Portugal as one of the favourites for the Euro 2008 crown.

The 2004 hosts secured qualification for the Austria-Switzerland tournament last night after drawing 0-0 at home to Finland, with the attacking midfielder in mixed moods after the game.

He told PortuGOAL.net, "All our players should have ambition to lift trophies. I think we can win the European Championships. We have great players, a great structure and we have to think positive. We’re going to be at our best in the finals."

However, he seemed to indicate that the pressure of the fanbase was beginning to play a major role in the dynamics of the team, who failed to score in Porto.

"This team is at the level we have accustomed the public to over recent years," he began.

"We have achieved a lot of great things. Now, whenever things go wrong people start criticising straight away, but we have to get used to that. But I think in one way this is positive."

Atletico Madrid midfielder Maniche added, "We had some tough times this campaign but we’ve managed to get through it.

"Nowadays, there are no easy games. We did not have one single simple game in this qualification. But today we played well, helped each other and the only thing lacking was a goal.

"Some young players are coming into the team that have a lot of quality. They’ve shown it at club level and now they are showing it for the national team."

Real Madrid defender Pepe then concluded, "I’m delighted. I’m very happy with the way I was received by the fans and would like to thank the support of the crowd.

"It was a game in which we suffered a little, but that makes it all the more satisfying [to qualify]. But we deserved to win this match.

"This squad is fantastic and we deserve congratulations.

"Can we be champions? I believe so; we have very good players who respected all around Europe."

Portugal lost out in the 2004 final against Greece.

Kaka : Ronaldo is top star

Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to be crowned European Footballer of the Year, according to his main rival for the prestigious award.

Ac Milan and Brazil star Kaka, who is vying with Ronaldo for the accolade, reckons the Manchester United winger should beat him to it after his outstanding displays for club and country.

The winner of the Ballon d'Or will be revealed on December 2 when Ronaldo hopes to join the illustrious list of past winners, which includes United greats Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law.

And Kaka, who inspired AC Milan to Champions League glory last season and is the bookies' favourite to pick up the award, claimed Ronaldo - who scored 23 goals last term - would get his vote.

"I would vote for Cristiano Ronaldo as the best in the world," said Kaka. "Not just for his quality, but also as he has been able to do so well with Portugal.

"Lionel Messi of Barcelona is also a great player, but he has not won any titles this year."

Ronaldo has continued his superb form of last season during this campaign with 10 goals for United and a host of assists, as well as maintaining his scoring exploits for Portugal in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

But Ronaldo, 22, who scooped every individual award in England last season, said he is more interested in winning team honours with United than solo recognition.

"Someday I would like to be voted the best in the world, but it is not an obsession," said Ronaldo. "That's not what drives me.

"During the past few months I have heard it mentioned. For me, that nomination would be a dream come true. But I don't think about it when I get up every day for training.

"Whatever has to happen will happen naturally. If Manchester United are doing well, I will do well. The greater the success of United, the greater the success of each of their players.

"More than any individual title is the feeling my work is appreciated. If, one day, one of these awards is destined for me, it will be welcome and I will be there to receive it."

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Ronaldo would be a worthy winner. "The season Ronaldo had was unbelievable stuff," said Fergie.

"Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best all won the European Footballer of the Year award, which was unique coming from one club.

"If any of our lads achieved that, it would be fantastic for us as a football club. Ronaldo is a match-winner, like Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez."

Ronaldo paid tribute to the role Fergie has played in his development as a player and reckons the United boss will be a hard act to follow when he eventually steps down.

Fergie's No.2, Carlos Queiroz, has been touted as a possible successor, and Ronaldo would welcome his fellow Portuguese taking over. "I have a great relationship with Carlos and I know all the squad like him," said Ronaldo.

"Sir Alex has been at the club for 21 years. It will be very hard to replace him on many levels."

HOW BIG PRIZE ELUDED UNITED
Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best all won European Footballer of the Year during the 1960s - but no Manchester United player has lifted the Ballon d'Or since Bestie in 1968. Here are the near-misses...

1971 George Best 3rd. Winner: Johann Cruyff (Ajax)
1992 Peter Schmeichel 5th. Winner: Marco van Basten (Milan)
1993 Eric Cantona 3rd. Winner: Roberto Baggio (Juventus)
1999 David Beckham 2nd. Winner: Rivaldo (Barcelona)
2001 David Beckham 4th. Winner: Michael Owen (Liverpool)

KAKA'S 2007 CREDENTIALS
Won Champions League
Leading CL goalscorer
16 goals in 41 games

RONALDO'S 2007 CREDENTIALS
Won Premier League title
Fa Cup finalist
22 goals in 46 games

Cris & Owen new PES advert

Portugal 1:0 Armenia Cris hits back at home critics

Cristiano Ronaldo has hit back at the Portuguese public after they heckled the team’s 1-0 home win over Armenia. Hugo Almeida spared Portugal’s blushes with the only goal of a poor contest, leaving Luis Felipe Scolari’s men needing just one point to qualify for Euro 2008.

The performance did not sit well with the home fans, who displayed their frustration at the final whistle – but Ronaldo insists results are the only thing on his mind.

"For me it is a pain to receive critics in Portugal when playing for the national team," he said.

"I do not understand the attitude of the fans in Leiria but that is the way it is between the supporters in my country.

“We are not machines and it is not always possible to win the matches with style on the field.

“But I prefer to play a bad match and win than the opposite.

“Now we need a point against Finland but the team are not thinking of the draw.“It is impossible to play safe so our only objective is the three points."

CR is main man for Scolari

Cristiano Ronaldo will be crowned the heir to Portugal legend Eusebio before trying to inspire his country to the brink of the Euro 2008 finals by beating Armenia tonight.

Manchester United superstar Ronaldo, 22, wins his 52nd cap for his country in the Group A encounter in Leiria - and he will be presented with a commemorative plaque by Eusebio before kick-off to mark reaching his half-century earlier this year.

Eusebio is regarded as Portugal's greatest-ever player after scoring 41 goals in 64 appearances and helping them to the 1966 World Cup semifinals - but Portugal skipper Ronaldo, with 20 goals in 51 games, is now being mentioned in the same breath.

A win would all but guarantee Luiz Felipe Scolari's team a spot in the tournament next summer - and many of Ronaldo's Manchester United team-mates will be looking on enviously if England miss out and Portugal get there.

Big Phil's men face Finland - who are three points behind second-placed Portugal going into today's games - on Wednesday in Porto, where a point will be enough if they have beaten Armenia.

Ronaldo said: "These games are two finals, two games that we have to win. The team is prepared and the spirit is the same as ever, one of friendship and professionalism.

"We have had the chance to study the Armenia team on DVD, and we hope that everything goes well. I want to score goals and to set them up for others." Ronaldo is now the main man for his country following the retirement of Luis Figo after the 2006 World Cup, while veteran playmaker Rui Costa is also now out of the picture.

He has been in stunning form throughout the qualifying campaign, hitting eight goals to put Scolari's side in a great position to reach their fifth successive major tournament.

As Ronaldo's influence for United has grown, he has become the man on whom Portugal fans pin their hopes as they try to land a first major trophy.

Portugal will be without Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho, who is out for a month with a back injury.

Portugal New Shirt

Cris : I want England to qualify for Euro 2008

Cristiano Ronaldo last night claimed he is desperate for England to pull off a Euro 2008 miracle - so he can have a rematch with Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney.

Winger Ronaldo infamously winked after his part in getting Rooney sent off in England's quarter-final defeat against Portugal in last year's World Cup.

But Ronaldo admits he would dearly love to face England at next summer's European Championship in Austria and Switzerland.

And he even warned he would use the same dirty tricks again to ensure Portugal won.

Ronaldo said: "I want England to qualify for Euro 2008.

"I want England and Portugal to be there because it would be for the good of the game and every fan wants the big teams at major tournaments.

"But most of all, I would want to play England again because it would be sensational after the spectacle at the last World Cup.

"The story with Rooney in the World Cup is forgotten. "We are good friends, but I insist that I would never change my attitude.

"I would always do anything for Portugal when I play a game for my country."

My ambition has always to be the best

Cristiano Ronaldo has underlined his ambition to become the best player in the world.

Ronaldo is in the running for the most prestigious award any player can receive, the Ballon d'Or - the former European Footballer of the Year award which has been rebranded as World Footballer of the Year.

And the Manchester United winger admits he is determined to 'leave his mark on football history'.

Dream

"My ambition has always to be the best," Ronaldo revealed in his latest DVD - The Boy Who Had a Dream.

"I have always said that I don't have a job, I have a blessing from God because this is what I love best. And if this is what I love best then what I want most is to be the best.

"I dream of it often, I want to leave my mark on football history and if I can keep things up, if I am humble and always willing to learn, then one day I could do it."

Ronaldo also looked back at the 2006 World Cup when he was vilified for his role in Wayne Rooney's sending off as Portugal knocked England out.

No regrets

"If it happened now I'd do the same thing all over again," he insisted.

"I'm representing my country, my nation, my colours.

"What I did was perfectly normal. Lots of people wanted me to be the scapegoat for something because maybe they expected more from England, I don't know, I don't want to speculate.

"I remember after the game Rooney came up to me and said 'Keep it up, you guys have an excellent team, just keep going, you're doing well.'

"I have always been really good friends with him, he sent me messages after the game and I have never had any sort of problem with him.

"Everyone in this industry likes to incite trouble or controversy - my relationship with Wayne is very good."

CR double puts MU on top

Manchester United moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's double.

Christopher Samba came very close to giving Blackburn the lead when his rising shot crashed against the bar.

But Ronaldo's header and a side-footed finish, in the space of two first-half minutes, put United in total control.

And any hope Blackburn had of salvaging a point disappeared when David Dunn was sent off for picking up a second yellow card early in the second half.

Dunn's second booking was for a trip on Louis Saha and was possibly deserved, though his first booking, after he was adjudged to have fouled Carlos Tevez, looked a bit harsh.

However even before Dunn's dismissal Blackburn faced an uphill task after those two Ronaldo goals.

The year 2007 is turning out to be something of an annus mirabilis for Ronaldo, who has now scored a remarkable 26 goals for club and country in 51 games.

The Portuguese winger's double brought his season's tally to 10 and he came close to adding to it and claiming his first hat-trick for United when his quicksilver feet created the space for a long-range shot that went just over the bar.

And late on Ronaldo was denied by Brad Friedel, who also saved well from Rio Ferdinand.

Prior to Saturday Blackburn had recorded seven wins in eight games and initially Rovers more than matched United, with strikers Roque Santa Cruz and Benni McCarthy looking lively.

True, Blackburn had to survive some nervy moments and Friedel saved well from Carlos Tevez, while David Bentley had to clear a Ronaldo shot off the line.

Likewise Ryan Nelsen did well to block a Tevez shot, as did Morten Gamst Pedersen to charge down a Wes Brown effort.

But Blackburn had chances as well, notably when Samba's powerful shot cannoned off the crossbar.

Enter Ronaldo, not for the first time in his career, to change the shape of the game.

He is not renowned for his heading ability, but the header he scored to give United the lead was a goal any centre forward would have been proud of.

Ryan Giggs swung over the corner from the left and Ronaldo's leap generated plenty of power for his goalward header.

Bentley was again on the line, though this time he was unable to rescue his side, only helping the ball into the roof of the net.

A minute later Blackburn's defence was unravelled by some impressive combination play involving Saha, Tevez and Ronaldo.

Saha flicked the ball to Tevez and the Argentine's superb cross - hit with the outside of his right foot - provided the space and time for Ronaldo to clip the ball past Friedel.

United keeper Edwin van der Sar had an altogether quieter time of it and he spent the second half as a virtual spectator until he had to get down quickly to save a Samba header.

After Dunn was sent off, Pedersen also briefly glimpsed goal, but the Norwegian blasted over.

In the closing minutes Ronaldo blotted his copybook when he was booked for a cynical push on Nelsen, a foul that left the New Zealander in a heap against the advertising hoardings.

Arsenal, who have played two games less than United, will return to the top if they beat Reading by two goals or more at the Madejski Stadium on Monday.

MU 4 : 0 Dynamo, Cris goal

Cristiano Ronaldo Goal - Dynamo Kiev
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In-form winger Cristiano Ronaldo believes Manchester United now have a better chance of winning the Champions League than last season, when they reached the semi-finals.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who guided the club to a dramatic European Cup win over Bayern Munich in Barcelona in 1999, has gone on record as saying as he would like to lift Europe's premier club competition at least one more time.

They have begun that quest well by reaching the knockout stages with two group matches still to play after last night's 4-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev.

And Ronaldo, whose goal against the Ukrainians at Old Trafford was his eighth in 10 matches in all competitions, believes this season the team could go all the way again.

"Manchester United have the opportunity to win [the Champions League] every season," said the Portugal international, who scored in the 3-2 first leg semi-final victory at home to eventual champions AC Milan last season only to see the side lose 3-0 in Italy a week later.

"You work for that but this season there is a better chance than last season.

"We have more options. We have new players, we have great quality and when you have quality you have the opportunity to score goals - which is what the players try to do.

"We have better players and they want to win the Champions League and the Premier League. You have to believe."

The victory saw Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez both score - with defender Gerard Pique heading the opener - and their burgeoning partnership up front is one of the key factors behind United's success this season.

Rooney has nine goals in the campaign and the Argentina striker five, but it is their link-up play with each other which has caught the eye.

Ronaldo praised the pair for working hard to establish their partnership.

"The last five or six weeks they have played fantastically," he said.

"They know each other, score goals and do a fantastic job."

MU 2 : 2 Arsenal

William Gallas scored at both ends at the Emirates Stadium, but crucially snatched a last gasp equaliser for Arsenal after Cristiano Ronaldo looked to have given United victory in a pulsating match in North London......More