Cristiano Ronaldo Interview: I Cried after First Arriving at Manchester United

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo does not believe he is deliberately targeted by opponents – despite his rough treatment at the hands of Newcastle’s Steven Taylor.

Taylor poleaxed Ronaldo with a brutal challenge during Manchester United’s 2-1 win at St James’ Park on Wednesday and the pair had to be separated after clashing in the tunnel.

But the midfielder, who according to statistics is officially the Premier League’s most fouled player, insisted the majority of his opponents do not set out with the intention of harming him. “On the pitch I’m a target for defenders, so it’s difficult to avoid certain things,” said Ronaldo.

“But I don’t believe people just want to do something wrong on purpose. In my experience, the game is not carried out that way. I’ve never had any serious problems.

“I do remember when a goalkeeper said that the only way to stop United is to target Ronaldo – I went on to score two past him.

“But I don’t agree when people say that to stop United, you only need to stop Cristiano. I don’t like it when people say that.”

He admits though, that he has had to toughen up since arriving in Manchester as a little-known

18-year-old who was so homesick he would cry every time he spoke with his family back in his native Madeira.

He claims the heartache he suffered when he moved to England proved the making of him and armed him with the necessary mental strength to become European and World Player of the Year.

“They were the worst moments of my career, when I left my family,” said Ronaldo. “It was a very very difficult part of my life because I’d always had a lot of back-up from my mother, father and my family.

“To go to a different place, different football, different country was very complicated. We cried every week but, in that respect, I grew a lot as a person and as a player, and that was very important to me.

“For young players the conditions are difficult. They have to work hard and fight for what they want to be in the future. In any other profession, it’s the same. You cannot stop believing in yourself.

“I started to play in Madeira in the street. The kids there still love to play football and all would love to be professional footballers one day. What they have to do is believe in themselves. If someone catches the opportunities, they will have a great life.”

Ronaldo now has a huge support network around him in Manchester. His mother Dolores is a frequent visitor to his Cheshire home, while his brother Hugo and sisters Elma and Liliana spend large chunks of the year living with him.

But United’s star man admitted he found it hard to adjust to his life as one of the most famous and recognisable players on the planet, yet conceded a lack of privacy was the price to pay for being such a successful and high-profile figure.

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“I’m very used to it because it’s been happening for a few years now,” said Ronaldo, 24.

“In the beginning it was very difficult because I wasn’t used to it. Now I know how to deal with it, it’s nice people want to speak to me and see what I do.”

Despite winning every individual and team award going, Ronaldo’s thirst for success has not been quenched and he gave the clearest indication yet that he plans to stay at United for the best years of his career, despite Real Madrid’s continued interest.

“I don’t like to relax,” said Ronaldo. “I have to continue winning awards and trophies because I’m still young. I have a big path ahead of me and I want to stay in this important position, so I have to continue playing like I’m playing.

“I feel I’m at a club that gives me a guarantee to win titles and trophies. That makes me very happy. When we play for the Premier League or whatever, we know that we can win something.

“The Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup are all important, because if we win them it improves our confidence.

“We’re doing well in these competitions and we want to win them all. It would be good. Last year we did the Double and this year we have opportunities to win them all. We have to continue working as we have been, because we’re on a good path. To already be in the history of United is an enormous privilege and makes me very happy. It’s a privilege to work with a group of young and old United players.

“It’s spectacular. This group has a very nice atmosphere. Everybody treats me very well and it’s a privilege to play with these players.”

After tomorrow’s FA Cup quarter-final tie at Fulham, United face Inter Milan at Old Trafford in the second leg of their last 16 Champions League tie, with the score 0-0 from the first game.

United dominated against Jose Mourinho’s side but failed to score a precious away goal that would have given them the upper hand.

But Ronaldo claimed Sir Alex Ferguson’s side will progress at Inter’s expense because of their formidable European record at Old Trafford, where they have not lost for four years.

“I was a bit sad we didn’t win in Milan, because we had so many opportunities,” said Ronaldo.

“We didn’t score, but now have a new opportunity and our fans to back us up. They have confidence in us. We have to score and I’m confident we’ll win.”

( David McDonnel / Mirror )