Ronaldo out to control anger

Winger accepts he is a target for opposition defenders

Last updated: 10th March 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ronaldo out to control anger

Ronaldo: Knows he is a target

I am a target of course, so it is difficult to avoid certain things. I try to control my anger. Sometimes it's not easy, though, and it is something I have to improve on.

Cristiano Ronaldo
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Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he is trying to improve upon controlling his anger.

Ronaldo's treatment at the hands of opposition defenders has again been a focus of debate after an incident with Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor last week.

He has also escaped punishment himself this season after kicking out on several occasions, including clashes with Stoke full-back Andy Wilkinson and Tottenham Hotspur centre-half Michael Dawson.

The World Player of the Year accepts he is targeted by his opponents and also acknowledged his battle to keep his temperament in check.

Difficult

"I am a target of course, so it is difficult to avoid certain things," said Ronaldo in The Sun. "I try to control my anger. Sometimes it's not easy, though, and it is something I have to improve on.

"Sometimes it is difficult because of the atmosphere in the stadium and the importance of the game.

"I'm only 24, but I have a lot of experience of big games and that helps because you learn through situations.

"If someone kicks me, I get up and I go again. I am not afraid of being kicked, it is part of the game.

"I see it as a challenge that they have to kick me to stop me."

Confident

United face Inter in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday and Ronaldo is confident the holders can go through after a 0-0 draw in the first meeting in Italy.

He added: "We have to score now and we have to win. It won't be easy, but I am confident we will win.

"In the first leg we had clear opportunities and we should have taken them. But we have another opportunity and have our fans to back us up.

"It's hard to win the Champions League and the feeling it gives you is amazing. I want that feeling again and again."

Comments (3)

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Yaseen Shaikh (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

He needs to control his diving. He is so arrogant. He thinks he is the only player on the pitch. He needs to toughen up so he doesnt go rolling down as soon as somebody faces him. cheat!

Posted 14:42 10th March 2009

Ben X (Manchester United fan) says...

I think Ronaldo should play more like he used to, when he first came to the club. He shuld take pople on more often. He does lots of skill in his matches but its usually just a couple of step-overs followed by a pass or cross which looks good but doesn't do much for the team. When he first came to the club, he was getting himself in and around the penalty area and using his skill to take it past people or make a bit of space for himself to get a shot away. If he played like that again with the amount of skill, composure and experience he has now, he would be at a whole other level. Also, he needs to stop having tantrums when he loses the ball and ,instead, try to win the ball back.

Posted 12:54 10th March 2009

Stuart Bannerman (Manchester United fan) says...

People go on about Ronaldo being a diver, when the reality is that he is the most fouled player in the Premiership. Opposition players have to resort to dirty tricks to stop him, yet complain when he goes down after yet another cynical tackle. It's not surprising he gets angry. He is a marked man because of his class, opponents simply cannot deal with him and have to resort to kicking him. Its the only way they can stop him. There are English players who dive more often than Ronaldo - Gerrard, Cole, even Rooney.

Posted 11:09 10th March 2009
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