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Cristiano Ronaldo has doubts about staying at ManU after defeat
May 28, 2009, 0:40 GMT
Rome - In just a few hours, Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo went from saying that Manchester is his home to casting doubt on his future at Manchester United.
When asked whether he would stay in England, after the 2-0 loss to Barcelona in Wednesday's Champions League final in Rome, Ronaldo said: 'I don't know.'
There has been speculation for months about the Portuguese player, 24, awarded the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Player of the Year 2008, joining Real Madrid. Former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, a candidate to lead the Spanish giants again, is always keen on signing big stars.
Ronaldo never hid his admiration for Real Madrid, though he has stressed again and again that he is happy in the Premiership.
However, his state of mind appeared to change in line with his performance in Wednesday's final: he started out very well, with three good shots on goal in the first eight minutes, but then failed to shine, lost the game and was booked. Moreover, he was booed by Barcelona fans, who already see him as a representative of their arch-rival Real Madrid.
'Everything went badly. We started out well, but then we did nothing. We did not control the match, and we lost. I think Barcelona played better and deserves the win,' he said.
Ronaldo noted that United were not up to the challenge of winning their second straight Champions League.
'Everyone expected Manchester to do better, but it didn't happen,' he said. 'We did not play fantastically, we did not control play, we did not do the right thing, we wasted goals, and that is what happened today.'
Still, the forward was optimistic about the future.
'I am sure I am going to play more finals,' he said.
Ronaldo did not, however, specify with which team.
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Reg CollinsMay 28th, 2009 - 02:33:25
Manchester Utd were outplayed, out-classed and almost destroyed by a
skilful team that paid no homage to the English club's blustery 'we will crush everything before us' reputation.
Barcelona controlled the game from the first few minutes with stylish, fluent, cohesive football, negating the choppy, indecisive play that left Manchester flounderin - impotent as Barcelona directed the ball seamlessly from left to right to front.
Remarkable that manager Ferguson, noted for attacking referees for failing to award penalties, particularly to the diver Ronaldo, was left in a semi-coherent state at the post-game press conference.
The defeat was so complete, even he was left to mumble that Barcelona were the better team.
Perhaps the British media-corps that effusively crowned Manchester as champions the day before the game, will reflect that their judgment should have allowed for the possibility that Barcelona, all round, wa and is a superior team.
PS: The commentary we got from UK TV suggested that the box was manned by members of the Manchester Utd PR department that hung on until almost the end before acknowledging that Barcelona had deservedly won the day.
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