Carvalho: Stop Ronaldo

Defender wants second Champions League medal

By Hayley Paterson   Last updated: 17th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Carvalho: Stop Ronaldo

Carvalho: Eager for glory

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Ricardo Carvalho has put his own future on hold to concentrate on keeping 31-goal machine Cristiano Ronaldo at bay in the Champions League final.

The 29-year-old is uncertain about whether he will be staying at Stamford Bridge, but insists he will put all of his efforts into stopping Ronaldo and co in Wednesday's all-English final.

"Ronaldo has been fantastic for the Premier League," Carvalho said.

"We have to try to not give him too much space. It is difficult to stop him but if you focus and work with your team-mate, it will be easy."

Chelsea are still licking their wounds after handing the title to Manchester United when they could only draw with Bolton on Sunday while United beat Wigan on the final day of the season.

But the Portuguese defender thinks revenge could be sweet and wants to revel once again in the European success which saw him lifting the prestigious trophy with Porto.

"Sunday was disappointing, but now we have to look forward to playing the final. It is an important game for the players and the club.

"The last few days will be more difficult, when you start to think about the game. In my first final, we got the result and I got the cup. It was a fantastic day.

"The Champions League is the best you can get as a player with a club. Playing United is going to be very tough, they have shown what a great team they are this season but we really want to win this trophy."

Carvalho has been nursing a back injury but believes he will be fully fit for the crucial clash - which could end in a disastrous season for Chelsea if they lose their last hope of a trophy during the 2007/08 campaign.

He added: "It doesn't matter who wins the league, this is the Champions League. We will arrive in Moscow confident we can win."

Tune in to Sky Sport's live coverage of the Champions League final in Moscow on Wednesday, May 21.