Fergie - Ronaldo can improve

Ferguson presents the FifPro award to Ronaldo

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• Manchester United

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• Cristiano Ronaldo

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• Ronaldo earns FifPro award
• Five Prem stars in FifPro XI
• Photos

Sir Alex Ferguson believes there is still more to come from FifPro World Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Manchester United star was honoured by his fellow professionals as he was named the leading player of 2007/08 by members of the world players' union.

Portugal international Ronaldo was always going to be a leading contender for the honour after he scored 42 goals to help the Red Devils claim the Premier League and UEFA Champions League crowns.

And Ferguson has warned Premier League and European defences that the 23-year-old will get even better with age.

Experience

The Scot told Sky Sports News: "For a winger to score 42 goals, that itself deserves recognition. His performances apart from that were exciting. He's a player who always wants to take the ball and always plays with such great courage.

"Where he will improve is his authority, his timing. Experience gives you better timing, better authority and better decision making and handling all situations, that's what maturity does.

"In the case of Cristiano, at 23, we expect that to progress the right way.

"When you look at the quality of the players involved it is a measure of the success of the team last season. It was a marvellous year for us and, quite rightly, we've been recognised in a big way."

Ronaldo, who was targeted by Real Madrid over the summer before electing to remain at Old Trafford, was quick to repay the compliment in his praise for Ferguson.

Titles

He said: "The boss is very important for me. I'm at the club because of him, he signed me when I was 18 years old.

"He helped me a lot. He respects the players, he knows how to speak with the players and I think this is very important. 99 per cent of the players have a great relationship with him.

"He's a great man, a great manager, and it is great to be part of Manchester United with him. The titles speak for the themselves, he has won everything for the club."

Ronaldo was joined in the FifPro World XI of 2007/08 by team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who was a rock at the heart of United's defence during their Double triumph, with Ferguson eager to salute the England international.

He added: "He's never lost that technical advantage he has over other defenders. The ability and balance to take the ball out of defence has always been there.

"What we're seeing with Rio now is a maturity in terms of helping other people round about him and being a leader in that respect."