I did not criticise Chelsea - Ronaldo Thursday, November 23, 2006
Cristiano Ronaldo has denied making the widely-publicised comments attacking Chelsea duo Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko.
It was claimed the Manchester United winger had stated neither Ballack nor Shevchenko had made any difference to the Stamford Bridge outfit despite their costly price tag.
The allegation has left Chelsea’s players bristling ahead of Sunday’s key Barclays Premiership clash with United at Old Trafford, midfielder Frank Lampard defending the pair before declaring the Londoners will ‘do their talking on the pitch’.
However, Ronaldo is totally mystified where the comments have come from.
“I didn’t do an interview and I didn’t say the things I have seen written,” he told MUTV.
“I respect Chelsea and everybody in their team. But I have my own ambitions for my own team and I hope to win on Sunday.”
The row is something Ronaldo could probably have done without given the constant booing he received on his return from the World Cup has only just subsided.
Although he has reached a World Cup semi-final and a European Championship final for Portugal, the 22-year-old’s medals with United amount to a single FA Cup win and last season’s Carling Cup triumph over Wigan.
Victory on Sunday would put United in pole position to win their first Premiership title since Ronaldo arrived from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, although despite the relative lack of silverware, the wide-man insists he is happy with life in Manchester.
“I am enjoying myself a great deal,” he said.
“The team are playing well, which helps. I feel I am learning and improving every year.
“I am becoming more mature and more consistent. I understand what it means to play for Manchester United a lot more. I feel great and I want to keep it going.”
