Ronaldo upset with form
Manchester United´s Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he is not in the best of form at the moment and revealed his most difficult opponent is Arsenal rival Ashley Cole.
The Portugal international has only one goal to his credit so far this term, a sweet volley against Southampton, but is bemoaning his dreadful luck after hitting the woodwork a number of times.
The winger had a Christmas break in Madeira to recharge his batteries after a hectic summer programme but has still to hit peak form since his return, despite impressing in a substitute appearance against Aston Villa over the festive period.
" I accept, at this moment, I am not in a good moment," he told MUTV through an interpreter. " But I will come back strongly and do my best.
" I am a keen learner; I will be learning all my life.
" Obviously I get a bit frustrated but I feel I have been unlucky this season. I´ve had seven balls on the post and I get frustrated with that. I want to continue to work hard for the team and score as well.
" [I said I´d score] 10 [goals]. I think that´s still possible if the bad luck goes away. If I had scored the seven that hit the post, I´d be near that. I´m still able to do that."
Ronaldo would like a run at playing just off the centre forward but is happy just being in the team at United and learning from the likes of Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane.
" I´ve no preference; left, right or centre," he said. " I´m just happy to play, that´s obvious.
" I like to play behind the centre forward but that style of play at United doesn´t suit their style of play. I like to play quite freely but sometimes the manager has other players who can perform in that position and he makes the decisions.
" Playing with Ryan at United is fantastic because, as a player and a person, he´s great. He helped me a lot in my first months and the club and is one of the persons I´ve kept as an idol. He has had a very good career with United and we can call him a star.
" It´s obvious it was very important to have worked with Roy as, in the first year, he helped me lot. He´s our captain and, within the team, he´s a very strong player. We all respect that due to the experience he has. He´s a very spontaneous person and sometimes he is spontaneous when we have bad play but he´s a good person and a very important colleague."
The Madeiran youngster admits he only has two gripes - the usual criticism of Manchester´s soggy climate and having to tussle with Arsenal defender Cole, with the duo continuing their enthralling Euro 2004 head-to-head battle in The Premiership.
" There are many good defenders in England but Ashley Cole [is the most difficult]," he concluded.
" When I play against him, I think he´s the most difficult.
" At the beginning, it was quite difficult for me but, nowadays, I´m used to the people in Manchester. I know it, more or less, and am adapted to the system. The only problem I still suffer is the weather!"
