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發表於 2007-3-21 20:18:14
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Woodgate hails genius Ronaldo
By Mark Ogden
Last Updated: 2:05am GMT 21/03/2007
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport ... /03/21/sfnwoo21.xml
Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate has moved to defuse the row over allegations of Cristiano Ronaldo being labelled a "cheat" by members of the Boro coaching staff by admitting the Manchester United forward did not dive to win the match-winning penalty in Monday's FA Cup quarter-final replay at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo claimed his 18th goal of a productive season by scoring from the penalty spot after being upended by Woodgate in the closing stages of the second half. With the 22-year-old having already been involved in two previous contentious penalty decisions against the Teessiders this season, referee Mike Dean's decision to award the penalty prompted an angry Boro response, on and off the pitch.
The Middlesbrough manager, Gareth Southgate, was forced to concede that words had been said "in the heat of the moment" prior to substitute James Morrison being sent off for a wild challenge on Ronaldo.
But despite the furore caused by Ronaldo's latest involvement in winning a penalty, England defender Woodgate, who appeared to catch the player with his right knee, refused to condemn the Portuguese for his part in the incident.
Woodgate said: "It was a decision which went against us, but Ronaldo is clever. I don't think he dived so you can't put the blame on him.
"I don't know if it was a penalty. Ronaldo is a very clever player, one of the best in the world, and whether it was a penalty or not, I just don't know. I couldn't honestly tell myself.
"Ronaldo is a fantastic player, though. There is a touch of genius in him and you have to admit that he lights up the Premiership. It was one of those games that could have gone either way, but the penalty decided it."
Woodgate, in the England squad for this weekend's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel in Tel Aviv, admitted that he is prepared to accept the blame for the incident which resulted in United booking a semi-final date with Watford next month.
He said: "You get criticised if you make a mistake. You have to take the good and the bad, but if people give me stick, fair enough. You are there to be shot at and I have no problem with that.
"We don't want the season to fizzle out on the back of one penalty, though. We have a lot of belief, a great manager and some really good players. There is a Uefa Cup spot to go for and if we keep winning, we believe we can get that place."
United's Ryan Giggs, too, was convinced the referee had made the correct decision. "My first thoughts were that it was a penalty," said the Welshman. "Cristiano showed great pace and Woodgate caught him."
As someone who had to put up with intense scrutiny himself during the early days of his career, Giggs understands what Ronaldo is going through.
"Cristiano has been a match-winner for us on numerous occasions this season," he said.
"He can turn defence into attack in seconds. He won the penalty for us then had the calmness to put it away. To be honest, I think he likes the pressure of penalties. He always looks confident, which is what you need as a penalty taker."
As well as keeping United on course for the Treble, Monday night's win puts Giggs in line for a special place in FA Cup history. Only three men have five winners' medals, and the last of those was over a century ago. |
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