CHRISTIANO RONALDO removed any lingering doubts that he is
currently the worlds best footballer, before offering a frank
self-assessment that will send chills through any defence. The dust
was still settling on Manchester Uniteds awesome dismantling of
one of Italys most formidable teams in Roma, when Ronaldo said:
Im still young and Im still improving. No wonder team-mate
Patrice Evra was moved to suggest that in years to come the
22-year-old from the holiday island of Madeira will be talked of in
the same exalted company of greats like Pele, Maradona and George
Best.
But the memorable 7-1 win over Roma represented a significant step
forward in Ronaldos remorseless drive to take over from Ronaldinho
as the world No1. While he has consistently torn apart defences at
domestic and international level, the one notable negative in his
portfolio had been his failure to make an impact in the Champions
League.
In 26 previous games in the group and knockout stages he had failed
to score his one European goal coming in a qualifier against
Hungarian unknowns Debrecen two years ago. But all that changed in
the two ties with Roma, a team second only to runaway leaders Inter
Milan in Serie A, and with the best defensive record in the
Champions League of any of the quarter-finalists.
In the first leg in Rome six days earlier, he had hinted at what
was to come with some surging runs and a big assist for Wayne
Rooneys goal. Then in the second leg at Old Trafford he and his
team-mates took their game to a new, spectacular level that made
the rest of Europe sit up. It only strengthened the feeling that
Ronaldo will scoop all the player-of-the-year awards, but the
Portugal winger said team honours are what he covets most.
As he savoured yet another man-of-the-match prize, he said: It is
always my aim to be regarded among the best players in the
Premiership, or even the world. But Im still young and Im still
improving. These awards are not the most valuable thing to me. My
focus is on helping my team-mates and the club. Above any
individual honours, I want to help United win trophies.
I feel great, to beat Roma 7-1 in a Champions League quarter-final
is an unbelievable result. I felt my time was coming in this
tournament. I wanted to score in Europe like I have been doing in
the Premiership, so Im very happy. The team played very well, we
were very confident of overturning the first-leg result and the
supporters played their part by helping the team. It was an amazing
night for the players and the club. The destruction of Roma was
the perfect pick-me-up for United after the shock defeat at
Portsmouth which has raised a question mark over their top target
the Premiership.
Ronaldo added: It is true our big priority is the league. That was
our aim at the start of the season and we have worked so hard to
get to the position we are in. But, of course, we want to do a
good job in the Champions League. We have the players capable of
going all the way in the competition.
We have a great team spirit and it is a different team to two or
three years ago because the players are more mature. We know and
understand each other on the field a lot better. Weve grown
together as a team. The last two seasons have not been great in
Europe. It is not good for this club unless we are in the
quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of the Champions
League.
I have no preference who we play in the semi-finals AC Milan or
Bayern Munich would be tough ties but we fear no one. The
important thing is that we take this form into the semi-finals.
Ronaldos double took him to 20 goals for the season in all
competitions, double the target set by Sir Alex Ferguson at the
start of the campaign. It is an impressive tally for a wide player.
And there have been a similar number of assists.
With United still having a possible 11 more games as they pursue
the Treble, Ferguson will be hoping Ronaldo is as good as his word
and there is yet more to come.
