Champions League
Floundering Ronaldo can only fantasise about number one status
Onde está Ronaldo?
‘Stubbornly resilient’ is the greatest praise that can be afforded to Manchester United’s performance at the Camp Nou against a Barcelona side high on household names but low on belief.
The defence was once again sublime - as against Roma in the quarter-finals - and they were constantly at work as a dishevelled midfield offered little ball retention and the forwards none at all. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Premier League’s best player, was substandard once again during a match of huge significance.
He was oblivious during United’s crucial matches of last season - the FA Cup final, the Champions League semi-final against Milan - but following a sensational domestic campaign, it had seemed the Portuguese had finally developed into a consistent and big game player.
Yet the man who can work wonders with a ball at his feet magically vanished from the scene, failing to recover from an awful penalty miss and submitting one of his worst performances of the season. A league campaign is far more forgiving, allowing Ronaldo a few out-of-sorts days while United’s title ambitions are not compromised, but with the pressure of another Champions League semi-final, the 23-year-old appeared to crumble under the weight of 100,000 pairs of eyes.
The hyperbole surrounding his excellent domestic displays has spun out of control. According to the hype, Ronaldo is far-and-away the best player in the world with no other even close to rivalling him. The illusion has been constructed, but reality is far harsher.
Certainly, Ronaldo was not the sole underperformer as United claimed a scarcely deserved draw.
Wayne Rooney, who can have just as much influence on games, was withdrawn on the right wing while Paul Scholes and Carlos Tévez were relentlessly thwarted by the hosts’ defence.
But Ronaldo has emerged as the leader of the creative pack and, having earned a place amongst the top three players in the world at Fifa’s annual awards, carries the onus of making things happen for his side. He must provide the creative input and fashion opportunities for himself and others; therefore demonstrating that he is able to carry the rest of the team on his shoulders.
So often Kaka has managed it, and even Ronaldo’s main rival for the best player crown, Lionel Messi, has in spite of his youth and fragile frame frequently inspired Barcelona with his virtuosity and immaculate ability. While Messi starred last night, Ronald’s impact was negligible.
Ronaldo demonstrated a lack of temperament and assurance with the early penalty miss; the man who rarely misses from 12 yards seemed mentally unready to score with just two minutes on the clock and with so many willing him to miss. He failed to hold his nerve, affecting his entire performance. Missing a penalty is forgivable, especially bearing in mind both Ronaldo’s record from the spot and his season so far, but perhaps less so is the manner in which he reacted to it.
After childish antics of previous years, from whining to diving, Ronaldo has matured wonderfully. However, after the penalty miss, as when things are not going his or United’s way, he reverted to type and displayed his insolent and thus unproductive side. Ronaldo’s disposition doesn’t seem to match that of Kaka or Messi, who have been able to put aside setbacks and still perform to the highest degree. Ronaldo, instead, pondered wistfully.
Nevertheless, the outcome was positive: a 0-0 draw hands Sir Alex Ferguson’s side the advantage ahead of Tuesday’s return leg and Ronaldo’s miss has left no tangible impression on their bid for the double.
And the player himself reacted with the usual nonchalance. Ronaldo seemed far more assured post-match than in-match, claiming that the miss was “no problem” while asserting, “I’m going to score in Manchester.” His wrongs of the first leg need to be put right in time for the second meeting - starting with the hugely significant encounter with Chelsea on Saturday. The world’s best players are noted so because they dazzle in the biggest games. That facet has thus far been absent from Ronaldo’s résumé.
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Matthew Day you are a total jack…. Ronaldo should have had another penalty, had a few good runs forward and was generaly good. He has a beautifull sesson and if in a game he is not fantastic you can not say he was simply bad (unless you are a total ignorant) kaka? he was terible in seria A ..how’s that for leeding your team? btw…ronaldo has 7 goals in Champions L this year (the best goalscorer)
Matthew Day, you should try watching football with an open mind, not listen to biased commentators, or hold some pre-concieved grudges based on previous incidents. Try thinking for yourself.
Ronaldo was by far, on what was really a drab performance by most players on the pitch, the one player who came anywhere close to effectively obtaining real scoring opportunities. Playing in a centre-forward role, where space is tighter, (he obviously has more space on the wings), so he had a less than perfect day for his owjn very high standards.
Facts:
It is from his goal bound header that Man Utd earn the first penalty. He was denied one clear penalty when Marques clearly obstructed him with no intention of playing the ball - had it been the other way, for example with Messi running through, I firmly believe that a penalty would have been given.
In a later incident, also inside the opponent’s area, he is definately fouled, defender gets no where near the ball. Watch the replay carefully.
Now Messi has some nice touches (especially if you are playing football on a beach) but no one comes close to Ronaldo in terms of inflicting fear into opposinging teams and defenders.
If you are a betting man who would you bet on for the tie in Old Trafford: Ronaldo or Messi?
Ronaldo bashers dream on, cause it ain’t going to work.
The more you critisize, the more you will all eat your words.
Obviously Matthew hasn’t been watching Serie A this term. And if he has, he has probably listened to the shite that comes out of that ”Great” Serie A analyst John bloody Barnes. Kaka has NOT performed at all this season. Its been a relatively frustrating season for both kaka and messi as not only are their teams not playing well collectively, but the added responsibility of taking on the footballing mantra themselves has effected them greatly. which is fair enough. football is a team sport, not one of individuals, and being slightly annoyed at Ronaldo’s girly outbreaks when he is tackled fairly (example: Zambrotta) i really felt he was superb on wednesday in one respect - he sacrificed his own game to work for the team by chasing rubbish balls up front. you can knock him all you want, but he did a pretty good job. i think however his arrogance in the after match interview might have let him down. btw - he is human, he is allowed to miss penalties.