Cris makes the cut

Cristiano Ronaldo has made his first squad list 55 days after playing his last game with Real Madrid. The Portuguese forward has been training with his team-mates during the past few days and has made the cut for the clash against FC Zurich at the Bernabeu on Wednesday (20:45 CET). Raul, Albiol, Lass and Sergio Ramos have also made the list. Guti is still injured and missed training today as he is sick with flu.

Injured Cris out of Madrid's game at Sevilla

Cristiano Ronaldo was ruled out of Real Madrid's Spanish league match at Sevilla on Sunday due to an ankle injury.

The Portugal winger severely sprained his right ankle in Wednesday's 3-0 Champions League win over Marseille, in which he scored two goals.

Ronaldo has scored nine goals in seven games, including five in the league to help Madrid start the season unbeaten after five rounds.

"It's a significant loss," Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini said Saturday. "But we have a great squad that is ready for when these moments arrive, and the alternatives are very important."

Pellegrini also left midfielders Lassana Diarra and Fernando Gago, striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and defender Alvaro Arbeloa out of the squad.

Captain Raul Gonzalez or Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain is expected to fill in for Ronaldo, who joined Madrid for euro94 million ($135 million) from Manchester United in the offseason.

Sevilla is third and has won six straight matches in all competitions, and forward Adriano is happy Ronaldo will be out.

"That works well for us," the Brazilian said. "But Madrid is always dangerous, whoever comes."

CR set on team glory

The notion goes that whomever comes out on top - Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi - then the World's best player tag is automatically theirs.

Cristiano is on the throne currently, but he says retaining his crown will not be his motivation in front of a packed Stadio Olimpico crowd on Wednesday. Believe it or not, his aim is shared glory.

“Whoever wins the final will have a better chance [of winning the award]," Ronny said. "But I don’t care about that, what I want is to win the Champions League – that’s it. Some players in my team have played fantastic football this season - they deserve it.”

Ronaldo is aware that the TV cameras and photographers' lenses will focus on him all night, but it's a pressure he's learned to live with. “It’s normal for people to talk about me," he says. "I’m 100 per cent focused on the game. I try to help my team, I will try to score and win the game.

"It's a great stadium. I feel very good to play here. I’ve played here a few times and, in my opinion, I played well. I have to play well now. The pitch, the stadium, the fans… they’re amazing; I look forward to playing here and winning. It’s going to be special.”

Cris at Porto

Manchester United have landed in Porto. The arrival of the British delegation was the sound of songs of some English fans, who were at the airport. Has to see the ace, and some even had kind of a response to the silence of the European champions.

With Rio Ferdinand to lead the delegation, a fan took a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo to launch a challenge to the Portuguese: "Cristiano, you have tomorrow." The player of Manchester United and has listened with a smile.

Cristiano Ronaldo believes that Manchester United will overcome Porto in the Champions League quarter-final second leg as they bid to retain Europe's top competition.

The Dragoes appear to be in the driving seat, on paper at least, having earned two away goals in their draw at Old Trafford in the first leg and they now have home advantage.

Furthermore, 12 British clubs have travelled to the Estadio do Dragao in European competition and not one has come away with a win.

However, the 24-year-old winger is confident that the Red Devils will make it 13th time lucky. He is certain nothing will stand in his way of attaining the quintuple.

"We will win because Manchester United are the better team. I feel good and I'm ready," Ronaldo is quoted as saying by Fox Sports.

"I think we have a better team than Porto but we have to respect them. I want to finish the season by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League. My team-mates are thinking like me."

Champion League pre-match press conference

The euphoric nature of United’s 3-2 Barclays Premier League victory on Sunday has set the Reds rolling again in the hunt for all trophies.

There’s no rest for United as FC Porto are due at Old Trafford on Tuesday for a Champions League last-eight tie, but Sir Alex Ferguson insists the adrenalin and belief is still coursing through the veins of supporters, players and manager alike.

“There is a definite adrenalin lift for Tuesday,” he said at his pre-match press conference. "You have to say that that winning goal has galvanised the club.

“That goal was exactly what you’re at this club for. Manchester United is the one club in this world that can guarantee you that. There wasn’t a soul in that ground who didn’t think it was possible. Not a soul. They expected it.....More

To kill.....or be killed

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo emphasised the importance of tomorrow's Champions League tie against Inter Milan - 'it's kill or be killed.'

The knockout stage begins this week with the holders and Barclays Premier League leaders United up against a team on course to win their fourth consecutive Serie A title.

The mind games between Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho will provide a fascinating sideshow to what many see as the tie of the round.

Ronaldo said: 'They are a team we have to respect. They are a very good side who lead the Italian league by a lot of points so we must be very careful.

'It's time to kill - or be killed.'

No team have ever retained the Champions League but Ronaldo aims to help United create history after the shootout victory over Chelsea in last year's final.

The World Player of the Year said: 'The feeling of the Champions League is unique.

'When you hear the music and you come out onto the pitch it's a completely different game and atmosphere to the others.

'The emotion of winning my first Champions League medal was spectacular. When [Edwin] van der Sar stopped [Nicolas] Anelka's penalty it was like the earth stood still.

'I hope to repeat that feeling very soon.'

Focused on final

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his determination to win the Club World Cup, whilst reiterrating his desire to remain at Old Trafford.

The winger headed United's second goal in the 5-3 victory over Gamba Osaka on Thursday to set up a meeting with Liga de Quito in Sunday's final.

The build-up to the Reds' opening game in Japan was dominated by claims that Ronaldo will be joining Real Madrid next summer after United had reportedly shaken hands on a deal with the Spaniards.

Ronaldo was keen to distance himself from the ongoing speculation, preferring to focus on United's quest to be world champions.

"I don't care what people are saying,” he said. “I have not read it. I am here in Japan and I know nothing about what is going on around me. But I am very happy playing for Manchester United.

"We are all looking forward to Sunday's final and I think we have a great chance.

"I really want to win this trophy after the year I have had. Not just for me, but for United. Maybe most of the players won’t have another opportunity to win this trophy in their career, so it's very important to us.

"No other British team has won it and we want to be the first to do that. And I believe it will give us extra motivation to win the Champions League and Premier League again."

Show off Golden Ball

CRISTIANO RONALDO is frozen out of Manchester United’s European clash at home to Aalborg tonight.

But it will not stop him bringing some warmth to Old Trafford.

The Portuguese winger will show off his European Footballer of the Year award before United’s final Champions League group game against the Danish outfit — who axed ex-Arsenal boss Bruce Rioch last month.

Ronaldo, 23, will not be fit to play having suffered a hip injury during the 1-0 Premier League victory against Sunderland on Saturday.

He has only been able to do some light jogging at the club’s Carrington Training Complex as they prepared for tonight’s game.

But you still will not be able to keep the Portuguese star off centre stage — as the Ballon d’Or makes an appearance at the Theatre of Dreams for the first time since George Best won it in 1968.

Cris can play

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to travel with his team-mates as they prepare to face Villarreal at El Madrigal.

The Portuguese attacker was expected to miss the UEFA Champions League clash after he limped off late on in United's 0-0 draw with Aston Villa.

The 22-year-old was the victim of some fierce but fair challenges from the Villa players as the Red Devils failed to capitalise on title rivals Chelsea and Liverpool dropping points.

But Ronaldo seems to have shaken off any knock he may have picked up as he participated in a training session at Carrington on Monday morning.

Midfielder Darren Fletcher could also feature in Spain as he too took part in the session, as he recovers from a knee injury which kept him out of the Stoke and Villa games.

Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar is definitely out of the match as he did not travel with the squad. This could mean starts for either Ben Foster or Tomasz Kuszczak.

Dimitar Berbatov misses out again with a hamstring injury as does Wes Brown with an ankle injury.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men need just one point from their last two group games to make sure of their qualification to the last 16.

Villarreal lost their unbeaten record in La Liga on Saturday as they suffered a shock 3-0 home defeat to Valladolid.

The two sides drew 0-0 at Old Trafford on match day one of the group stages.

Rest for Cris

Sir Alex Ferguson will not rush Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to full match sharpness, so much so that he is considering whether to leave the Portuguese winger on the bench against Celtic on Tuesday.

The Reds boss paid tribute to Ronaldo’s personal characteristics and his athletic attributes, saying that he is capable of raising his game on demand. But his ability to recover from a Saturday game for a Tuesday Champions League tie are perhaps not yet at their usual superhuman levels – the after effects of a summer without training due to an ankle surgery.

“He’s coming along terrifically well,” said the United manager. “It’s almost there. With 20 minutes to go on Saturday when Gary Neville went on, I said to Gary, ‘ask Ronaldo how he is’. I thought he was showing signs of tiring.

“Gary asked him and Ronaldo said, ‘I think it’s time to come off’. Five minutes later he told Gary, ‘I’m feeling good now’. Maybe the fact that Gary told him he might be coming off lifted him a bit. You find that with the type of human being, the type of athlete he is. He will find something. When he needs it he finds it.

“One touch and he could score. He has got such a talent in the box. I think he’ll win the Ballon d’Or. If he doesn’t win it, I want to sign the guy who does.”

Ronaldo played in both Portugal matches during the recent round of World Cup qualifiers. It prompted a conversation between Sir Alex and his former assistant, now Portugal manager, Carlos Queiroz.

“I spoke to Carlos [Queiroz] and asked him what he thought [about Ronaldo’s match fitness]. He said he thought Cristiano was still finding it hard to recover from a Saturday game to play on a Wednesday. Carlos thought he was magnificent against Sweden on the Saturday, showing maturity, decision-making, everything… but on the Wednesday he was a little flat. That’s simply because he is still working on his recovery from games.

“Against Celtic, with it being Saturday to Tuesday, it would be perfect if we had an extra day. We’re just looking at the situation and whether we should bring in Nani for this one.

“We’ve got the option to bring Nani in because he only played 30 minutes for Portugal on Wednesday. When you get so many games in a row after spending time out injured, there is a response to playing all the time. The adrenalin makes you OK one game, but then your performance dips a little bit.”

Cris back for United against Villarreal

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will make his long-awaited comeback against Villarreal in the Champions League tomorrow night.

The Manchester United manager said the Portugal winger would play some part in United's opening match of their European campaign after recovering from an ankle operation in July.

Ferguson will be without Michael Carrick, who has broken his foot, and revealed that Dimitar Berbatov is likely to also miss the match with a knee injury. However, Ferguson said Berbatov's fitness would have no bearing on his decision to recall Ronaldo.

"He [Ronaldo] will certainly be involved," the manager said. "Whether he will be starting or not will not be determined by the fitness of other players. It's still a major decision but I would think it is more likely he will start on the bench."

Ferguson dismissed suggestions that the player could be abused by fans after his flirtation with Real Madrid over the summer.

"I don't think there are any concerns about that," Ferguson said. "The fans understand the situation, that he was a young man tempted by the lure of money, but since we told him our decision he has accepted it well and his training has been fantastic.

"He had said that he would like to go to Real Madrid, but once we had our meeting, that was all finished. He accepted our decision and just got on with it and there hasn't been one problem since.

"And in terms of his injury, he has been one of the best patients I've ever seen. He has been working hard, every day until 5pm, and he has shown a real determination to get back and play for us.

"He has shown fantastic maturity over the last few weeks. There has been no pettiness, no chucking toys out of the pram. He has worked hard every day and his recovery is a credit to him and the physios."

Cris looks for birthday win over world champs

Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo said on Monday he was looking forward to a birthday present in the form of a friendly win over world champions Italy.

The Manchester United winger turned 23 on Tuesday and admitted that a win "would make a nice present."

He explained: "For my birthday I would have liked to be with my family but the national team is like a second family and so a victory over Italy would make a nice present, especially since Portugal have not beaten Italy for 31 years."

Since that win in Lisbon in a friendly Italy have won nine and drawn one game, conceding just three goals in the process.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said he would not hear of the game being just a warm-up for the European Championships.

"For me, against Italy, I want to win. We don't have a great record against them. We must change that."

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.

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.

CR Relishing Portuguese Captaincy

Cristiano Ronaldo will inherit the Portugual captain's armband from Nuno Gomes tonight as the Selecção das Quinas travel to face Kazakhstan, but insists that the responsibility holds no fear for him...

Cristiano Ronaldo will don the Portuguese captain's armband tonight as his country takes on Kazakhstan in Almaty this evening, but seems entirely unfazed by the responsibility.

"I don't feel any sort of pressure," he shrugged.

"The only pressure I feel is that of winning, and to do the shirt justice with a fine performance."

The 22 year old striker has been in fine form for club and country over the past year, suggesting that he will be a key influence in Kazakhstan this evening.

Nonetheless, he claims that his powers depend partially on his various dressing room superstitions.

"I always undergo the same routine," he said of his pre-match rituals.

"Once the coach reveals the lineup, I take a ball into the dressing room and start juggling it.

"It's fun, and it helps relieve any tension that I have in the buildup to the match.

"And like many footballers, I have superstitions. For example, I must always step onto the pitch with my right foot first at the start of a game."

Cristiano has 51 caps for Portugal.

Enjoys Sporting homecoming

Cristiano Ronaldo is hoping for a warm reception when he steps out at the Estádio José Alvalade in the red of Manchester United FC in the UEFA Champions League.

'Second home'
Ronaldo joined United for €17.5m in August 2003 after coming up through the Sporting youth system and is looking forward to playing against the team where he made his name. "It's always good to come back to my second home," he said. "I have lots of friends and colleagues here. I like Sporting a lot but my primary colour now is red. To be honest I think the people like me here and the reception will be different than the last season in Estádio da Luz [when United played SL Benfica]. They are different people. I was booed but that's in the past. I think the reception will be good here."

Emotional return
Ronaldo admits it will be an emotional return, but he is focused on one thing alone; going one better than last season when United reached the semi-finals. "I will have to wait until tomorrow to see what my feelings are but I have been expecting to play against Sporting, a club where I spent so much time, for a while now. I expect a normal match, very emotional, but I believe we can win it because we're better than Sporting in every respect."

'Great game'
The 22-year-old has fond memories of this fixture. The two teams met in a friendly here four years ago and the home side ran out 3-1 winners – with Ronaldo impressing in the green and white of Sporting. "I have watched that match many times," he said. "It was a great game for me. I felt extra motivation back then because it was the very first match in the new Estádio José Alvalade and I was facing the team I always dreamed of playing for."

Dazzling
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson would make that dream a reality soon after and his decision to sign the winger has been vindicated many times over. Ronaldo has gone on to score 50 goals in 194 appearances for United, his dazzling performances last season helping the club to their first Premier League title since 2003. "I think it's difficult for an 18-year-old boy to settle at a new club in a new country as well as Cristiano did," Sir Alex said. "Young boys have to grow to develop and it is the speed of his development was surprising. He is a more mature player now."

Hungry for title

"We all want more trophies. I have waited a few years to win the Premier League but now we have done it once, we want to win it again" - Cristiano Ronaldo

Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo is hungry for more silverware having helped Manchester United wrest the title back from Chelsea's grasp.

And the 22-year-old Portuguese winger will be hoping to add to his medal collection on Saturday when the Red Devils take on Chelsea in the first FA Cup Final at the new-look Wembley Stadium looking to seal an historic fourth domestic league and cup Double.

Ronaldo, who wants to help Sir Alex Ferguson's men win the Premier League again next season, said: "We all want more trophies. I have waited a few years to win the Premier League but now we have done it once, we want to win it again.

"I am at a great club, with great players. We should be looking to win something every year. This season is not over yet either.

"We still have a chance to win the Double and, while you can never say who will win any match, the confidence in the team is high and I believe we have a good chance."

Ferguson will be without captain Gary Neville for the FA Cup Final as he has failed to recover from the ankle injury he suffered against Bolton Wanderers on March 17 as well as French striker Louis Saha, who has a knee injury.

The 65-year-old United boss' opposite number Jose Mourinho has claimed that Chelsea's injury problems are so bad that he might have to deploy third-choice goalkeeper Hilario as a substitute striker.

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."

Show the magic

"Ronaldo is by far the best player in the world at the moment. Hopefully he can work some of his magic against Roma and get us into the semi finals."
- Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo are often spoken of in the same breath at Old Trafford, but the Englishman says his Portuguse team-mate is the one who can conjure the magic to fire United into the Champions League semi finals.

United take on Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday and, thanks to Rooney’s sublime intervention after an hour at Stadio Olimpico a week ago, the Reds are well placed with an away goal despite being 2-1 down in the tie.

Rooney and Ronaldo were part of the United side that lost to AC Milan two years ago in a game that was seen as a watershed in their development on the European stage. Now Rooney says the pair are more mature and ready to lead the Reds into the last four of the competition.

“Against AC Milan a few years ago, myself, Cristiano and a few of the other players were still quite young,” says the 21-year-old striker. “Playing against the likes of Maldini and Nesta gives you a platform to learn from.

“Since then we’ve both improved as players. We’ve matured a lot. Cristiano is winning games on his own this season, he’s been unbelievable. At the moment he is by far the best player in the world, and hopefully he can work some of his magic against Roma and get us into the semi finals.”

It is typical of Rooney to play down his own importance, but his goal could be the telling turn in the tale of the battle against Roma. Down to ten men following Paul Scholes’ sending off for a series of late fouls, Rooney calmly chested down Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s cross before lashing the ball home on the volley. The goal could prove vital.

“I hope it can,” he says. “I’ll tell you after the game. But it’s going to be a difficult match. After going down to ten men in Rome, we had to try and stay in the tie. So, to get the away goal was important for us, hopefully we can make it count.”

As if he needed reminded, it was his first goal in the Champions League proper since scoring that sensational hat-trick against Fenerbahce on his United debut in September 2004.

“I’ve had chances,” he freely admits. “There have been times when I should have scored and times where the keeper has made a good save. It was really good to get the goal because there was a lot of talk about me not scoring for a while in the Champions League. Hopefully now that will stop and I can concentrate on trying to get more goals in Europe.”

Rooney is all too aware that, in the absence of United’s main striker Louis Saha through injury, he can ill afford to go on a similar run before he finds the net in Europe again.

“We’ll have to take our chances,” he adds. “We need a good performance because Roma are a good team and they pass the ball really well. At times it’s difficult to get the ball back off them, so we have to be ready and focused. In the quarter finals of the Champions League you’re not going to play badly and go through. But, with the players and the speed we have got, especially at Old Trafford, we know we can cause Roma problems.

“It’s also important that the reaction from the weekend is positive. We have to go into the game and play the way we have played all season. We’ve played well all season and we don’t want to let ourselves down now by losing one game and going out of the tournament. We want to go further in the competition.”