Cristiano Ronaldo is adamant he should not be sitting out the
Manchester derby after his red card in United's midweek draw with
Portsmouth.
The Portuguese winger is currently serving a three-match ban
following his dismissal for an apparent headbutt on Pompey's
Richard Hughes in the Fratton Park clash.
The champions have picked up just two points from their opening two
games, and will now be stripped of their star man's talents for the
games against City, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland.
But while Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to condemn any reaction from
his players, Ronaldo refused accept the red card he was given was
justified.
"The replays show there was nothing," Ronaldo told the Sun.
"But I don't need to look at the pictures, because I know exactly
what I did - and that's nothing to justify a red card."
Ronaldo was eager to point out he did not headbutt Hughes in their
coming together.
"I was pushed in the area. He came straight to me, put his hand on
my neck and I opened my arms in a 'that's enough' way. We pushed
each other but nothing serious," he added.
"We leaned heads against each other but that was all. Absolutely
nothing else happened.
"When I saw the red card, I couldn't believe it, the situation was
so surreal.
"And it's absurd because I'm aware that now I'll sit out a ban for
something I didn't do. I feel dejected and very sad."
