Cristiano Ronaldo: Playing well is what matters

Cristiano Ronaldo: Focussing on playing well

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo, after winning on Monday the FIFPro Player of the Year - an award judged by his fellow professionals - and scoring a double for Manchester Unit, insisted that talk regarding his body language is wide off the mark.

Cristiano Ronaldo said: "People are always writing things about me. It is up to them; for me it is not a problem. I will just try to play well and do my best. I am just focused on playing good football."

Still, since returning from an ankle operation lastmonth, Ronaldo admitted that he has not rediscovered the devastating form that saw him score 42 goals to help United to the Champions League and Premier League titles last term.

Ronaldo said, he was focussing on playing well: "I know last year was magnificent. It is still possible this season....my priority is not only to score goals. I don't have to do that. I just have to play well for the team. I just want to keep proving to myself that I am a good player" Cristiano Ronaldo proving he's a good player?? Whatever he says Ronaldo also has to prove he wants to stay at Manchester United.

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Liverpool vs Man U: Gerrard Back?

Liverpool vs Man U: Gerrard Back?

LIVERPOOL Vs MAN U: STEVEN GERRARD is set to hand Rafa Benitez a huge boost - by giving himself every chance of featuring against Manchester United on Saturday.

The Liverpool captain will return to full training in the next few days and should he come through that with no ill effects, his chances of facing Manchester United will increase dramatically.

His rehabilitation programme has gone much better than expected since then and he is now fit enough to join in with his team mates as they prepare for their biggest Premier League game of the season so far. Gerrard now stands a realistic chance of being involved in Saturday's lunchtime showdown with the reigning champions, although the final decision as to whether or not he plays will rest with manager Rafa Benitez.

Liverpool vs Man U is always a massive game and Liverpool will be praying Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres recover in time for this one! They're gonna need them!

Berbatov to Manchester United

Berbatov to Manchester United - a done deal at last!

Dimitar Berbatov is expected to finally move to Manchester United, they are reportedly expect ing to force through the purchase in the next 24 hours before the transfer window closes.

Berbatov to Manchester United has been one of the sagas of the summer, and it finally looks like coming to an end, with a 25 million pound deal, plus add-on's and interestingly Frazier Campbell, Manchester United's young forward who impressed at Hull, as part of the deal.

Tottenham have also signed the Russion forward Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak Moscow for a transfer fee believed to be £14 million so are quickly reinforcing in anticipation of the move.

Berbatov to Man U was always a certainty, and it's a wonder there was so much column space devoted to it! Berbatov at Man U will only make the rest of the Premier League wonder who is going to stop Man U this season?

Wayne Rooney: goals will come with a partner

Wayne Rooney's goals will come if he gets some forward help

Wayne Rooney goals will flow if Sir Alex fixes the errors of his ways, by buying Berbatov.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been remarkably confessional in the build-up to this season. Maybe his age is showing, but he admitted to Sir David Frost that it had been a mistake to sell Jaap Stam to Lazio in 2001 and then later, during the club's tour of South Africa, he conceded that errors had been made in his deployment of Wayne Rooney.

Pity no one asked him about his decision, two summers ago, to sell Ruud van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid. Was that a mistake too?

Ferguson may never say it was but he appears to regret letting the prolific Dutchman go. Why else would he be pursuing Dimitar Berbatov with such vigour? Upon signing him - and United are confident they can do so this week for about £25m - the Bulgarian will be expected to provide everything Van Nistelrooy once did - an outlet for the side's dynamic and willing runners, a target for those able to play a raking pass from deep, and of course goals. Despite his current lack of "focus", a record of 46 goals in two seasons proves the 27-year-old Bulgarian is more than capable of supplying those.

Oh how Wayne Rooney will be glad of a good old fashioned strike partner. He must have been willing Manchester United to buy anybody to play off this summer, rather than plough the lone furrow up-front again. Peter Crouch, Dean Ashton, Emile Heskey............alright, Emile is stretching it a bit, but I'll bet he'd have been happy with Peter Crouch!

Wayne Rooney should enjoy his football and his goals, much more this season, now it appears certain Berbatov is on his way. Footy Focus online has never been convinced that Wayne Rooney will get goals while playing upfront alone, and Man U's rivals will be sorry its about to end!

Cristiano Ronaldo: Buys 150,000 number plate

Cristiano Ronaldo: 150,000 on CR7 number plate

Cristiano Ronaldo

Demonstrating that age old adage of footballers having more money than sense, Cristiano Ronaldo has spent a massive 150,000 on a number plate!

Ronaldo coughed up the huge sum for the registration CR7 - his initials and shirt number at Old Trafford, says The Sun.

The new number plate takes his spending with luxury car firm Liquid 45 to a whopping £490,000 in the past month. A couple of weeks ago he placed an order for a black Rolls Royce Phantom - which costs a jaw-dropping £340,000.

But the number plate won't go on the new car - it is destined for Ronaldo's runaround, a silver £140,000 Bentley convertible!

Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly one for splashing his cash about. It's an obscene amount of money, but if you've got it flaunt it and Ronaldo certainly has!

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Berbatov to Man U

Berbatov to Man U: Berbatov forcing his way north

Tottenhams Berbatov is now clearly forcing his way to Man U. Reports are filtering out that he has handed in a transfer request, hence his weekend appearance on the bench.

Berbatov has been quoted as saying: "I'm now in Tottenham but no-one can disagree with me wanting to follow my dream,"

Berbatov's agent Emil Dantchev was even more direct in his comments on the player's future. "We have two more weeks until the end of the transfer window and I think this will be the most important week," he said. "I read Alex Ferguson's statement that he wants another striker and I hope that this striker is Dimitar Berbatov."

It's all coming to the inevitable conclusion and Berbatov should get his move to Man U very shortly! It's an awful lot for a 28 year old, but hey if the Premiership lands back at Man U it will be worth it! Hicks and Gillett should take note!

Berbatov to Man United

Berbatov to Man United in 48 hours reports

Latest reports doing the rounds, is that Dimitar Berbatov is to move to Manchester United for 28m within 48 hours. If so its' a scary thought - Ronaldo staying and Berbatov added into the mix. Makes John Terry's recent words about Manchester United not finding another level, look more like a hope than a shrewd prediction.

Also it won't have gone unnoticed by Rafa Benitez, that Manchester United's board where willing to sanction 28m for a 28 year old Berbatov, and he's been refused 18m for 27 year old Gareth Barry.

If Ronaldo have gone, we'd have seen Berbatov as a poor mans replacement, but adding him to a squad with Ronaldo staying only make Manchester United look ever the stronger. Berbatov to Man United may be one of the most expensive transfers of the summer, but it will more than likely also prove one of the shrewdest!

Latest Football: Terry sees Man U Downturn

Latest Football: Terry sees a Man U downturn coming

In the latest football pre-Premier League mind games, John Terry of Chelsea has in an unoriginal reply predicted the downfall of Man U, repeating essentially what Sir Alex said of Chelsea a few days ago.

Echoing Sir Alex Ferguson in the latest football mind-game attempt, he says Manchester United don't have another level to go to, forgetting the fact that they don't have to, Chelsea and all the others do. Harsh fact of life Mr Terry is that if Manchester United repeat last years form and results, it ain't gonna be Chelsea who are Champions.

"Rio Ferdinand has been awesome for the last two years and Cristiano Ronaldo was unbelievable - I don't think you'll see that again," Terry said.

Personally, we at Footy Focus think we will and we are Liverpool fans! Ferdinand is at last maturing on and off the pitch, and it has to be said he is a truly outstanding defender. As for Ronaldo, maybe he won't get 40 goals again, but if United get another striker as they are trying for, he won't have to. Wayne Rooney is also likely to chip in with more goals, as Ferguson has recognised they sacrificed him for the team last year. Also Nani and Anderson et al now have a years experience in the Premier League. Latest Football wisdom to us Mr Terry is that you'll be more than likely trailing in their wake again!

Football News: Ronaldo to Real Madrid

Ronaldo to Real Madrid: Unstoppable momentum grows

Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid is gathering inevitable momentum with increasing reports in the media fuelling the circus around his move.

Latest reports have Scolari and Calderon urging him to 'be strong' and that Manchester United 'can't hurt him'! All silly season stuff really, and what's all been seen before as countless others have done what Ronaldo is now doing ie dig his heels in and force Manchester United to sell him to Real Madrid.

It's the sad but inevitable route many transfers take in modern football, and the Ronaldo to Real Madrid saga is no different. Just the money involved is bigger than ever before! Eighty million really is nuts!

Bernd Schuster has come out and said Real Madrid will do 'whatever it takes' to get Ronaldo from United. That appears to be an eight million transfer fee, and 182 grand a week! The interesting part will be if the Glasers become as relentless as Real Madrid and leave him in the stands. There was an interesting article in the Times the other day, where an employment lawyer basically said that a deal will get done as Real Madrid, Ronaldo and Manchester United will all realise that lawyers will be the only winners if it goes to court.

We at Footy Focus reckon it's a done deal. Ronaldo will move to Real Madrid, and Manchester United will get a stash of cash to replace the forty goals a season! It's a well worn path and Manchester United have time and again been in Real Madrids place. Thats life Fergie!

Football News: Ronaldo to force his way to Madrid?

Ronaldo to do 'all in his power' to move to Madrid

In a depressingly familiar tale of player power, reports are emerging that Cristiano Ronaldo is to do 'all in his power' to get his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid.

'Sources' also briefed in the media that Ronaldo considers Real Madrid a bigger club than Manchester United, and that he has never been enthused with life in Manchester.

Given Ronaldo signed a new, improved deal a little over 12 months ago, it all has the familiar depressing ring of contracts not being worth a carrot, as player power rules.

Manchester United will be further enraged that FIFA have cleared Real Madrid of any wrongdoing in their conduct and relentless pursuit of Ronaldo.

It seems the saga is beginning to play out to its inevitable end, and that Ronaldo will move to Madrid after the European Championships, much to the dismay of Manchester United and it's supporters. There is a slim chance the Glazers might do what they say, and stop Ronaldo's Madrid move, and let him 'rot in the stands'. Now that would be fascinating to see!!

Football News: Real want Ronaldo to strike

End-game becomes a farce as Real Madrid urge Ronaldo to go on strike

The Sun and Tribal Football are reporting that Real Madrid are urging Ronaldo to go on strike, to force Manchester United's hand over Ronaldo's proposed transfer.

Real Madrid president, Calderon is being quoted via second hand 'sources' that they want Ronaldo to go on strike at Manchester United until the transfer window closes on 31st August.

It's all becoming very nasty, sad and disappointing really. A lot is just newspapers filling the column inches, but there can be little doubt Real Madrid have turned Ronaldo's head, and both are now trying to engineer a move.

As we've said before, wouldn't it be great if just for once a club stood up to a player and let him either stick to his contract or as Ferguson put it, 'rot in the stands'. It would be fascinating if the Glazers and Manchester United really did refuse to buckle to Real Madrid and Ronaldo.

Whether Ronaldo moves to Real Madrid or not, its once again showing the money driven, dark side of football. We can only hope Manchester United back up their words with action. More power to their elbow we say!!

Ronaldo: Ferguson not welcome here

Ronaldo's position becoming untenable as he tells Ferguson to stay away

Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid seemingly took a step closer yesterday, as he made it known he did not wish to see Alex Ferguson at the Portuguese training camp, to discuss the matter.

Given Ronaldo has now also come out and said he would like to move to Madrid, via a Brazilian website, it all stacks up to the player slowly building pressure on Manchester United, in a bid to engineer his move.

What would be really interesting is if the Glazers and Manchester United stick to their guns and let Ronaldo 'rot in the stands' as Ferguson said this week. Personally I would be ecstatic if they did. How good would it be if just for once, a player was made to stick to their contract. Given Ronaldo only signed his latest four year deal last year, United have every right to feel aggrieved.

However I think its a bit rich for them to complain about Real Madrids tactics. I suspect Sir Alex Ferguson is a past master at such tactics and has been using them for years, in order to get his transfer targets from other clubs!

Depressingly for Manchester United fans, it seems that Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to move to Real Madrid, and it is now turning into the story of the summer. The really fascinating part will be how far the Glazers and Manchester United are prepared to go in standing up to Real Madrid and the modern player power being displayed by Cristiano Ronaldo. Let battle commence!

Ronaldo to Madrid: Looking a shoe-in

The mother of all moves edging closer as Ronaldo admits to wanting move to Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted yesterday (albeit on a Brazilian website), that he would like to move to Real Madrid. There was no word from Sir Alex Ferguson, though Manchester United's Chief Executive David Gill stated that "Our position on Ronaldo remains as set out last week," referring to Ferguson's insistence that the club would rather let the player rot in the reserves than do business with a club who, in their eyes, have brazenly flouted transfer rules and etiquette.

It all seems like its building up to be the mother of all transfer stoushes, probably ending in the mother of all transfers, with a world record fee of 78 million pounds securing Ronaldo's move to Madrid.

Manchester United and it's supporters will be hugely disappointed with Ronaldo, who it appears is determined to engineer the move to Madrid after only two outstanding seasons. However given his recent comments it can come as no surprise.

Overall the Premier League will be very interesting next season, and potentially there will not be a better time for a club to break into the top three or four. Arsenal have lost Flamini and Hleb, Chelsea look likely to lose Drogba and possibly Lampard, while Manchester United certainly look like losing 40 goals a season in Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo the best ever

Rooney sees Ronaldo as the best ever player in the Premiership

Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney has hailed teammate Cristiano Ronaldo as the Premiership's greatest ever player.

"He has not just been the best player of the last two seasons, he's the best player the Premier League has ever seen - and that's including Thierry Henry, Gianfranco Zola, Eric Cantona, Dennis Bergkamp and Alan Shearer.

"Cristiano is rightly talked about as the best player in the world. I was surprised he didn't get the world player award last season. He's got to get it this time."

It's hard to disagree with Wayne Rooney. Ronaldo is certainly above the players mentioned, with the possible exception of Thierry Henry, and it is most likely he will eclipse his achievements in the Premier League given time.

Footy Focus thinks Cristiano Ronaldo will eventually be looked back on in the same manner as George Best, that is a phenomenon if his time.

Ronaldo - Manchester United right for me

Ronaldo insists Manchester United is the place to be
With rumours that Real Madrid are prepared to obliterate the world record for him refusing to go away, Ronaldo's latest pledge of devotion will serve to ease some of the concerns of United fans the world over.

“At the moment I feel very good and feel I am at the right club,” he told the Friday Football Show. “I love these people, I love the football and at the moment I think it is the best football in the world.

“The stadium is full every game, and for me it has been fantastic. The fans have been fantastic too, and not just this year, but every year. They sing my song and I see it in their faces that they like to see me on the pitch and they like to see my tricks and passes.

“For me I feel comfortable here at the club.”

Ronaldo, who is reportedly in line for a new contract worth £150,000 a week, then had some words of appreciation for George Best, whose highest goal haul from a United winger he surpassed last month.

“I got the opportunity to see a few tapes of him last month,” Ronaldo added. “He was an unbelievable player – a great player, and to be compared to him is very good. I feel very proud of that.

“This has given me more motivation to work more.”

Manchester United vs Arsenal: Ronaldo scores again

Ronaldo ice-cool as Arsenal wilt in the heat of Premier League battle

Manchester United stormed to a six point lead in the Premier League, as they defeated Arsenal 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Arsenal again showed themselves as not having the mettle to withstand the heat of battle, as they again failed to hold onto a winning position in a crucial game. After gaining the lead through Adebayor, somewhat controversially as he appeared to use his hand, they again conceded a penalty. This time Gallas was at fault, handling inside the area, to give Ronaldo the chance to level the scores. Despite having to take the penalty twice, Ronaldo remained ice-cool to slot home with some aplomb.

Arsenal's season finally collapsed after 72 minutes, when Michael Carrick stepped up to curl a superb free-kick into the top right hand corner of Lehmann's net.

Manchester United vs Arsenal had started with Arsenal showing no signs of a hangover from the midweek defeat to Liverpool, however by the end it was again all too much for the North London side, as Manchester United overpowered their rivals and won all too comfortably. Back to the drawing board for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger!

Premier League: Man United 4-0 Aston Villa, Ronaldo again

Manchester United cruising to the Premier League as Ronaldo the difference again

Cristiano Ronaldo was again the difference as Manchester United continued to cruise to the retaining of their Premier League title.

Ronaldo is also astonishingly now within striking distance of scoring over 40 goals in season, with his total now reaching 35. Only Denis Law and Ruud Van Nistelrooy have scored more in a season for Manchester United. Even Sir Alex Ferguson's best ever hall of 45 in a season is now in sight.

Ronaldo was on fire in this game, scoring one and creating three others as Aston Villa were brushed aside with consumate ease. Ronaldo's goal was simply astonishing, outstanding and very, very cheeky!

As Ryan Giggs’ corner rebounded off Wilfred Bouma to Ronaldo, the winger had the cheek to attempt a backheeled flick through Martin Laursen’s legs. Being Ronaldo, it worked! After that he turned provider, setting up Rooney (twice) and Tevez, as Villa folded.

Victory assured, Ferguson could afford to give Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick half an hour off. As United prepare for their Champions League clash with Roma on Tuesday, they sent a message to their title challengers. Over to you, Chelsea.

Manchester United vs Liverpool - can you call it?

Manchester United & Liverpool to face-off in the mother of Easter Sunday clashes

This one is really hard to call. For every reason I think Liverpool can get a result, there's plenty why not coming from the Manchester United team sheet.

Both sides are bang in form, and Manchester United are looking particularly assured in their pursuit of the Premier League title. And who can blame them. It's 'squeaky bum time' as the wily old fox Fergie calls it, and it's not Manchester bums that are squeaking. Arsenal have drawn game after game recently, while Chelsea stumbled to a 4-4 draw after leading 3-1, in a game they really had to win.

Liverpool have bounced back from their FA Cup debacle against Barnsley with seven straight wins, and are looking the best they have since September, when title talk was all the rage. However for me, they still don't quite convince as an attacking force.

Torres and Gerrard apart, Babel is improving but still not convincing. It's clear he only needs a goal to give him a big confidence lift, but he is not in the same league as Ronaldo, Tevez or Rooney. As for Pennant, Benayoun, Kuyt, Kewell and Voronin, need I go on? Kewell has come back from injury looking like the show-pony of old. Someone playing for his future, let alone the badge, wouldn't have been so jolly after the defeat at West Ham. His laughing and overall demanour was a disgrace, given the situation. Of the others, surely only Benayoun should be retained. He's neat and consistent but is not totally top class.

here's not many meaner defences than these two, though United are the freer scoring of the two teams. If Liverpool can hold United in the way they did at Anfield, they may well nick a goal through Torres or Gerrard, to gain something from the game. United looked totally at ease earlier in the season at Anfield, but Liverpool are now a very different beast. They are mean, scoring goals and full of confidence. Moreover Benitez has at last got his three best midfielders on the park all at once. Alonso, Mascherano and Gerrard have not played together anywhere near enough, partly due to Benitez's tinkering (that has killed Liverpool's title challenge), and due to Alonso's injuries.

Footy Focus prediction - it's a gut feeling Liverpool will get something from this, but we just can't call it beyond that!

Champions League Draw Fix - More Intrigue

More mystery as a post turns up on Yahoo answers predicting the draw

The Champions League draw fix mystery took a further turn last night, with the forum where the prediction was orginally made, pointing out that on Yahoo answers someone claimed to have been told that the English clubs would avoid each other except one of them would get Liverpool. Read the post here: Yahoo answers Champions League draw

The original post that started the mystery can be found here at: Liverpool Echo forum

It's strange that the FA, and the clubs themselves have been silent on the affair. Even UEFA have only made one comment from a fairly low ranking individual. They obviously don't want to give the story any currency by making comment. But the lack of comments equally raises questions, especially as it's more a wall of silence than anything else!

It all sounds so incredulous, yet the evidence is actually quite compelling. Also given that the fixing of matches is hardly unknown, it is not beyond the realms of fantasy that it was fixed. Given the huge amounts of money involved, the Asian betting syndicates, the Russian mafia, and the preponderance of brown envelopes undoubtedly still being passed between sheepskin jacket clad men, it's no wonder people are suspicous!

Footy Focus view - it stinks!!

Manchester United vs Liverpool - let battle commence!

Old Trafford and wily old Fergie await a rejuvenated Liverpool

Rafael Benitez sends his rejuvenated Liverpool team into battle on Sunday out of the title race, but about to become embroiled in a seven game streak that will define their season, and which Benitez argues, represents the toughest test of his career so far at Anfield.

Liverpool have Manchester United next, Chelsea, bitter rivals and neighbours Everton and would you believe it three games against Arsenal, in the Premier League and Champions League.

Liverpool's season is following a familiar frustrating pattern for Benitez and Liverpool's fans. Benitez tinkers with the team on a daily basis until he hits on a winning formula, which he then sticks to. Problem is, by then in the Premier League the opposition are usually out of sight. In 2005/06 it took Benitez 9 games to get it right and from then on in he largely stuck with the same lineup, Liverpool went on a superb run, but after winning only 3 of the first 8, they were too far behind to make a meaningful challenge.

Now, as then he has found his line-up far far too late. Liverpool have all season defended superbly and are now scoring goals too, but they are so far off the pace, they are in a scrap for fourth not first. Moreover Torres and Gerrard may convince as an attacking force, but Kuyt is clearly not upto scratch, while Babel improving as he maybe, is still not showing the true class hoped for.

Manchester United meanwhile are now starting to emerge as the decisive Premier League leaders. A win against Bolton tonight will give them a clear lead, with only eight games to go. Arsenal are starting to stutter, having drawn a string of games, and just maybe are starting to fade (maybe tinkerman Benitez has a point!). If Manchester United come out of Easter with two wins against Bolton and Liverpool, they will start to feel the title is in reach.

Footy Focus prediction - we have a gut feel Liverpool will get something from Old Trafford though we're not sure what!