Cristiano Ronaldo’s physical influence

The game was played at a high tempo, and both performances were highly professional. The World Player of the Year-elect – Cristiano Ronaldo – was present in the starting line-up and available for the duel against Villareal’s Brazilian born captain Marcos Senna.

The Portuguese started on a very good note, using both his pace and tricks to pierce the Yellow Submarines’ defence and set up the rest of his team-mates.
Ronaldo also had a word of his own by the end of the first period after Wayne Rooney offered him a nice ball. The talismanic number 7 was inches away from breaking the heavy deadlock that had prevented Man United from scoring a real goal against Villareal in over 270 minutes; however, it was luck and capacity that prevented a change of fortunes: Cristiano Ronaldo’s firing chance from distance was impressively deflected on the crossbar by goalkeeper Diego Lopez’s fingertips.

Cristiano Ronaldo did not stop pressurizing Villareal’s defence who was very much alert and even too physical at times.

His opposite duellist, Marcos Senna, sustained an injury in the first half and subsequently asked to be substituted in the dressing room. The midfield battle without the influential Spanish skipper became easier for the Reds wearing all-blue outfits.
Ronaldo continued from where he left off at the end of the 45 minutes, playing tricky football and confusing the Submarines – who then found no other issues but committing fouls to stop the Portuguese who was not always fairly protected by the referee.

An exasperating tension to deal with

The tension in the game was already high between Ronaldo – who had to deal with provocation since the whole of the past week – and Villareal’s players: cameras caught one of them putting his fingernails in Ronaldo’s neck after the Portuguese had tried a wonderful effort.

Later on in the game, while it was obvious that Ronaldo had almost no contact on a Villareal defender as both were battling for the ball on the touch line, the referee awarded the home side a dubious free-kick. Ronaldo subsequently argued over the decision but then consented to let the free-kick take place. Agitated as he was in the whole of the game, Ronaldo corrected the linesman by placing the ball where it should have really been to take the kick; and this ironically earned him a yellow card.

All the same, Ronaldo dealt with the pressure that the home fans created and was paid back ten minutes before the end of proceedings. Capdevila’s challenge on Ronaldo’s knee was so reckless that the referee did not hesitate to show his red card.

After receiving treatment on the sidelines, Ronaldo returned to the field of play – which relieved every Man United supporter.

Neither side were able to deceive the goalkeepers; a goalless draw was all both could settle for and ultimately qualify to the next stage.

The defending European Champions still top the table with a better goal difference than Villareal and they are on poll position to retain top spot.
Manchester play Aalborg at home in their next meeting in this competition.

Written by: Angela Asante

The gates of flood

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring inside three minutes with a stunning 35 yards free-kick and clinched his 100th Man United goal of his career.. Stoke managed to maintain the 1-0 deficit until the 45th minute. Ronaldo again set up Carrick who finished up the good work with a wonderful strike to double Manchester’s lead just before half time.

The Champions had learned from their mistakes against Hull City and from their defeat against Arsenal the week before, and even without Ferdinand in defence or Rooney in front, the team fulfilled its mission.

Berbatov added a third goal four minutes into the second half and with the game looking to be settled for the Reds, Fergie decided to bring on debutant strikers Danny Welbeck and Manucho. This proved to be a perfect decision as both partnered together before Welbeck fired in a powerful breathtaking shot to increase the margin 8 minutes from time.

Stoke were desperate for the final whistle to deliver them from this nightmare while Manchester showed them no mercy as they continued to attack.

88 minutes had gone on under the clock but there was still time for the titleholders to crush their opponents. Cristiano Ronaldo scored once again from the free-kick to reach his 101st goal as a Red Devil player and seal Manchester United’s emphatic 5-0 victory.

Stoke City might have been brave against Liverpool and Arsenal, but not this time against the defending Champions. It was rather the world footballer of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo, who had the first and final word.

Written by: Angela Asante

Ferguson dropped Wayne Rooney on the bench and gave the chance for Tevez to start against start against his old club.

But it is Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence who inspired the Reds to victory. Ronaldo scored after 14 minutes with a left footed long rage shot to give Manchester United the lead.

And Zola’s Hammers never looked like threatening Fergie’s Big Boys. Manchester United had learned about their mistakes the last time around when they failed to kill the game against Everton; The Reds played positively and it was Cristiano Ronaldo once again who scored the second goal.

Berbatov controlled the ball in spectacular style near the end line, before feeding Ronaldo who squeezed the ball past the goal line.

Ronaldo’s first half double was enough to tie up Manchester United’s victory. However, the Champions still lie 6th in the table with a game in hand.

Written by: Angela Asante

Glory, glory, glory Man United! There is hope for the future! As every Manchester United fan dreamed of, wished it and expected it, the EPL defending champions won Saturday’s game at home to Bolton by a convincing 2 – 0 score line.

Gary Megson can say whatever he wants; there is freedom of speech in football. But what is done is done and no one can undo what a king has sealed!

After a 3 – 1 midweek win in the Carling Cup, the Red Devils were tipped as favourites to come out victorious from their league encounter against the Trotters.

Ronaldo enjoyed his first ever start in this English Premier League season and he marked it with an excellent influential performance.

The number 7 winger posed a lot of problems to the Bolton defence and especially caught them in the second half when a tackle on him won Man United a penalty. Ronaldo stepped forward, and obviously scored to break the dead lock. Manchester United’s confidence mounted higher and a second goal to wrap it up was not far away.

Wayne Rooney, ‘the guy with the habit to score against Bolton’ came from the bench to round up Manchester United’s victory after being set up wonderfully by no one else than Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Reds deservedly went away with all three points, jumping from 15th in the league standings to 9th temporarily.

Written by: Angela Asante

Alex Ferguson revealed to the media that the decision on whether Ronaldo should start from the bench or not in tonight’s Champions League encounter against Villareal, was a very tough one to take.

Ronaldo is just returning back from injury and it is very likely that the winger will start from the bench.

However, with Manchester United being desperate to win this opening game at all cost, there is a sensation that Ronaldo’s presence on the pitch at the very begining of the match will give a psychological advantage to the Reds against the Yellow Submarines of Spain.

Brazilian born Spanish international and captain of Villareal, Marco Senna, has revealed that his team is much more relaxed and confident going into the game as Ronaldo will likely be benched.

The midfielder declared that reigning champions Manchester United were nothing without Ronaldo and that the Portuguese talisman was simply the best player of his club amongst other good players like Tevez, Ferdinand or Rooney. He added that the Red Devils were at least 30% less powerful without Ronaldo in the squad.

Well, Alex Ferguson is known to be a mind game lover. Let’s just see how he will do to come up victorious from this one against Senna.

Written by: Angela Asante

Cristiano Ronaldo’s return in the Man U squad may come as a major boost. However, it does not mean that the club is now free from injury worries.