Superb in Euro 2004

Cristiano emerged as a world-class player at the European Championship in his home country last summer, his audacious displays driving Portugal to the final. His increasingly marketable image was already adorning billboards around the nation by the time his tears were beamed around the world after the agonizing loss to Greece. He then went to the Olympics in Athens, leaving Sir Alex fearful that his prize asset might burn himself out if not suitably rested.

However, only Paul Scholes had made more appearances in the current campaign by the start of March and the general consensus is that Cristiano has improved beyond measure since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in August 2003. Aged just 20, and 18 months into his five-year contract, he is developing into a bona fide United player- the youngster dazzled in the pre-season friendly at the Alvalade stadium had been expertly moulded into shape.

Amazing debut against Bolton

Ronaldo's Debut
Sir Alex was as excited as the 67,000 fans when Cristiano made his debut against Bolton Wanderers, but it was inevitable he would wish to harness the Portuguese whizzkid’s talents within a framework. The play-acting has been jettisoned and there is effectiveness to add to the vast array of tricks, with six goals for United and five for Portugal since August, as well as numerous assists. The flair still burns brightly, it’s just being used more sparingly.

Ronnie’s natural footballing exuberance has been channeled towards securing trophies in both competitions in which he is still involved – the Premiership and the FA Cup – and the Madeira-born trickster is readying himself for the decisive run-in. “We’re continuing to work towards winning the Premiership,” he says. “We’ve been winning games and playing well. We have to think positively. We have to think we’re going to do it. All the games this season has been tough. Our great vision is to finish in first place and we’re going to do everything we can to achieve that.”

Cristiano was only 11 and had not long been at Sporting when United won the Premiership for the third time, staging a Herculean comeback to dash Kevin Keegan’s hopes of leading the Magpies to the title in 1996. Yet it’s clear he’s received chapter and verse on that exhilarating campaign. The final push of 1995/96 term defined Fergie’s Unitedevery bit as much as the last-minute defeat of Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp in 1999, and the tenaciousness and never-say-die attitude integral to those achievements have been inculcated in Ronaldo.

He says: “We’ve come back from further behind than we are now and there are still enough games left. You should never stop believing. We’re going to keep on playing in the same way we have been doing. We’re doing well at the moment and we want to put on a strong finish to the season. Everything is possible.”

Nowhere is United’s gritty and fighting spirit better expressed than in the two victories against Arsenal. The first – depriving the Gunners of notching their 50th consecutive match unbeaten – ignited the campaign and the second encouraged belief in the implausible.

“We have to have faith in ourselves,” he asserts. “Games against Arsenal are hugely important and traditionally special. We handled the pressure better than them and winning at Highbury is no easy task. We were superior. We showed our character in those games and I hope that will help us to finish the season at the top.”

Predictably, Ronnie took great delight in scoring a double in the 4-2 win in the capital, so much so that he was booked for his hush-hush, finger-on-lips taunt. Such is the delight climate between the clubs, however, that he chooses to keep his genuine feelings on the matter private. “I hadn’t planned my reaction against Arsenal – I didn’t think about whether putting my finger to my lips to tell their fans to be quiet would be worth a yellow card,” he says. “It’s never good to get booked but it just came about spontaneously.”

Be that as it may, Chelsea have emerged as the team to beat this season and Jose Mourinho’s formidable Blues visit Old Trafford on 16 April. Even if the draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park has scuppered any title aspirations, it would still be nice to get one over the Londeners.

Tormenting Chelsea's defences

Ronaldo on Chelsea
Cristiano agrees: “We have to win against Chelsea as well as Arsenal because it’s one of those matches that could later decide the Championship. Let’s see how Chelsea do in the run-in; so far they haven’t done much wrong. They will be more motivated after winning the Carling Cup against Liverpool and it might give them the impetus they need to go on and win more. They are generally seen as favourites to win the league but I don’t believe that. We also have winning ambition.”

He does not share the opinion that Arjen Robben’s injury could be the factor that details Mourinho. “Chelsea still have the strength to win the titledespite the blow to Robben and they don’t need to rely on one player,” he says. “We’ve had to go a long stretch of the season without Ruud van Nisterlrooy and a big side can’t depend on one footballer.”

Cristiano appears unfazed by the threat Chelsea have mounted to United’s recent dominance of the Premiership, claiming that the Old Trafford club are still top of the pile. “United will continue to take on all teams in the coming years because we are an elite club, but the arrival of Roman Abramovich does mean Chelsea will be giving us more competition,” he says. “You’ve also got to remember the threat from teams like Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle is not going to go away. The Premiership is getting stronger.”

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