Cristiano Ronaldo plans to stay at Real Madrid to win Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo, who wishes to return to England and the Premier League, is not leaving Spain yet as he is determined to achieve his current sporting goal to win the Champions League with Real Madrid.

Ronaldo, who left Manchester United for Madrid in an £80 million transfer two years ago, was flattered by Manchester City's overtures to him earlier in the summer.

Ronaldo said: "I think if I went from Spain it would be to the Premier League - but not now. First we have to win the Champions League. If I went back to the ­Premier League it would have to be with a club in the north west. I don't like London."

The Sunday Mirror reported last month how Ronaldo was being wooed by relatives of the super-rich Abu Dhabi owners of Manchester City, with claims that the Sky Blues would pay him £350,000 a week to join them.

There was no suggestion that the club had made a direct approach but that a third party connected to Sheik Mansour had sounded out the player.

Ronaldo said: "It's flattering to be offered like £20m a year - it's very good, but I spoke to my agent and I think it's better to stay in ­Madrid because this year we're going to be the best.

"This ­season we are going to be a big force. Jose Mourhino is staying at Madrid so I stay. If he went to Chelsea then I would have left. I would have gone to Manchester City. But now he's staying, I'm ­staying."

FIFA's got it right this time

Have you heard that Ruud van Nistelrooy wants to leave Real Madrid in the January transfer window? The bigger news is that the Dutchman wants to snub Arsenal who have shown an interest in the striker to join Rafael Benitez's Liverpool.

If true, it could be a great move for Ruud. He excels in the English league as we saw during his time at Manchester United. His familiarity with the conditions and style of play will help him adapt pretty easily. Besides, since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka, Ruud hasn't featured in the starting line-up in Madrid and made brief appearance as a substitute.

Of course, after a knee surgery, Nistelrooy was out of the game for over six months last year and has been in and out since then.

Whether it will be a smart signing by Rafa, I am not too sure. Ruud will come in as a replacement for injured Spanish striker Fernando Torres. Ruud is 33 years old and nowhere near his best. His knee and ankle - both have been operated on - don't look strong enough to meet the demands of the physically challenging English game.

But that two top clubs -- Arsenal and Liverpool -- are interested in the player despite his trouble with injuries speaks volumes of the respect the Dutchman enjoys as a top striker. Yet, I don't think he is the answer for either clubs.

Another topic of discussion that has left me terribly amused is whether France should play a rematch of the World Cup 2010 qualifier against Ireland or not. Thierry Henry, the cheat, and Arsene Wenger, France's conscience-keeper, want the rematch.

To recap, the Irish were cheated out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa by Thierry Henry's handball in the build-up to France's extra-time equaliser in the qualifier that ended 1-1. After the handball, unnoticed by the referee, Henry set up William Gallas who scored the decisive goal for France ensuring their passage to South Africa.

Of course it wasn't right. Henry cheated. Ireland deserved that berth in South Africa having outplayed France throughout the game. But does that call for a rematch? I don't think so. FIFA has ruled that the draw at the Stade de France cannot be changed and I am with the game's top body on this one.

There have been hundreds of instances where a team has won unfairly while the deserving has gotten cheated out. If one were to replay every match, there would be no end to it.
Handball is cheating, as is diving and may such offences. Sometimes the players get punished, sometimes such things go unnoticed. That's the nature of the game and part of what makes the sport so watchable. Else, Argentina shouldn't have been champions in 1986 nor Italy in 2006, who cheated out Australia in Germany.

Football is full of wonders, beauty, magic, skill, grit and flaws, cheats, pain, tragedy. It's all of it. Just like life. Ok, so Henry cheated. Just like 95 per cent other footballers, who have also cheated at some point or the other. End of story. No rematch please. Let's move on.

Nemanja Vidic vows to prove his commitment to Man United

Star defender Nemanja Vidic has vowed that he will prove his commitment to Manchester United with his performances in the coming weeks.

Vidic's advisor Paolo Fabbri was quoted last week as saying that the centre-back would welcome a switch to Barcelona.

It set alarm bells ringing at Old Trafford, as Vidic has become one of Europe's top defenders since joining three years ago. His wife was also reported as being unhappy in Manchester.

But Vidic insists he is focused only on United's title defence and Fabbri denied making the comments.

"I've never said anything about Barcelona, or Real Madrid or AC Milan - or any club. I never speak about my future so I don't know why someone else does. I showed at Wigan on the pitch how happy I am at this club. Any fan of United only has to see how I played to know how committed I am," The Sun quoted Vidic, as saying.

The 5-0 win at Wigan on Saturday was Vidic's first game back after an ankle injury.

He spoke to Fabbri about the story to voice his concern at the timing of it, after United lost Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

"I don't want it to have an impact. I'm here and committed. I'll show that with how I play. It's not true that my wife is not happy. I don't know how that rumour came out; she's not what you'd call a famous wife. She's never spoken to a newspaper," he added.

Ibrahimovic 'better than Ronaldo'

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho insists his striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a better player than Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Ronaldo is a good player but he is certainly not the best," said Mourinho.

"He deserved the Golden Ball award because his team won the Champions League and the Premier League. But, for me, Ibrahimovic is the best."

Mourinho also said he is not chasing Chelsea's Dider Drogba, but admitted he will let striker Adriano leave Inter.

The 26-year-old Brazilian forward has been linked with a move to Chelsea or a return to his home country, and is apparently now free to leave in the January transfer window.

"(Club president) Massimo Moratti and I want him to stay," said Mourinho.

"However, if he asked me to leave I would not oppose it. He has 10 years of football left to play."

He added: "I have never hidden my special relationship with Didier but I do not need another striker as I have Hernan Crespo, Julio Cruz, Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"But Drogba is more than a player for me, he is a part of me, an extension of the coach on the pitch."

With Italian champions Inter set to face Manchester United in the last 16 of the Champions league next February, Mourinho has begun talking up his players.

And the former Chelsea boss believes his fellow Portuguese, Ronaldo, "is certainly not the best" player in the world.

"When I think how a player should be, names like Kaka, Ibrahimovic and (Lionel) Messi come to mind," said Mourinho.

"Messi is great and in two or three years' time he will win the Golden Ball (Ballon d'Or) award."

Ronaldo careful to avoid Fergie "hair-dryer" in Japan

Cristiano Ronaldo studiously avoided talk of Real Madrid after Manchester United booked their place in Sunday's Club World Cup final.

Spanish media reports claiming United had agreed to sell Ronaldo to Real prompted a furious response from Alex Ferguson after his side's 5-3 win over Gamba Osaka on Thursday.

While the United manager insisted he "wouldn't sell a virus" to Real, Ronaldo kept his own counsel, perhaps mindful of Ferguson's famous "hair-dryer" treatment.

"I don't want to talk about Real Madrid," the Portuguese winger told reporters after scoring one of United's five goals in their semi-final win in Yokohama. "I am happy here."

Ronaldo admitted that United would need to play better against Ecuador's LDU in order to become the first British side to win the Club World Cup.

"LDU are a great side and the final will be much more difficult," said the Ballon d'Or winner. "The second game is always harder. It would be amazing to be world champions.

"The lads want the treble (English, European and world champions) and we're delighted to be in the final. But we know we have to play better on Sunday."

LIME GREEN

Ronaldo, wearing lime green boots, gave United a 2-0 lead with a header on the stroke of halftime but was overshadowed by substitute Wayne Rooney's late double strike.

"Wayne did brilliantly tonight," said Ronaldo, who dazzled the crowd of 67,000 with his trademark stepovers. "He was hungry to score and got two fantastic goals."

Ferguson's side won the Club World Cup's forerunner, a one-off match between the champions of Europe and South America, with a 1-0 victory over Brazil's Palmeiras in 1999.

United were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Argentine side Estudiantes in 1968 when the Intercontinental Cup was played over two legs.

Ferguson was still fuming after the game about the latest rumours from Madrid, which came after last weekend's 2-0 defeat by arch-rivals Barcelona.

"Real Madrid will blame anybody but themselves for their problems," said the Scot. "I said to (chief executive) David Gill last summer, when we sold Gabriel Heinze, you can bet your life in January it will all start up with Ronaldo again.

"We know their game. We've just got to ignore it. If we keep worrying about what Real are going to say then we're not going to concentrate on our own programme of difficult games coming up."

Ferguson says Ronaldo can emulate Pele and Maradona

Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo has the potential to become as great a player as Pele or Diego Maradona, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said on Saturday.

"The expectations are always so high with Cristiano because of his rise in the last two or three years since we got him as a young kid," Ferguson told a news conference on the eve of his side's Club World Cup final against Ecuador's LDU .

"He scored 42 goals last season -- his goal-scoring is the one area which for a wide player Cristiano is absolutely superb.

"Pele scored in a World Cup final as a 17-year-old and Maradona played for his country at 17. Cristiano was 18 so the signs are the same."

Ferguson's lavish praise comes during the latest war of words between United and Spanish giants Real Madrid over the future of the Ballon d'Or winner.

"His ability with two feet is tremendous," purred Ferguson. "You would never associate it with a Portuguese winger but he is absolutely magnificent in the air.

"He's 23 now and still a very young lad but there's a lot of things in his favour to go on and prove himself as a legend."

Ronaldo was among the scorers in United's 5-3 win over Japan's Gamba Osaka in Thursday's Club World Cup semi-final but was overshadowed by two goals from substitute Wayne Rooney.

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Golden Ball award

Cristiano Ronaldo won the Golden Ball awarded to the European Footballer of the Year on Tuesday, becoming the fourth Manchester United player to take the honour and the first since fellow winger George Best in 1968.

Ronaldo's brilliant scoring form helped him beat Barcelona striker Lionel Messi into second place, while Liverpool forward Fernando Torres was third in the poll results announced overnight by France Football magazine.

Ronaldo dominated the voting, tallying 446 points. Messi had 281 points and Torres had 179.

That gave Ronaldo two points more than Kaka won last year's award with.

Ronaldo was second last year with 277, while Messi was third with 255. Kaka, Milan's Brazilian playmaker, was eighth this time with only 31 points.

Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions last season as United won the Premier League and Champions League trophies.

The 23-year-old Ronaldo adds the Ballon d'Or award to the FIFA Pro World Player of the Year trophy he won in October, and the Professional Footballers Association and the Football Writers awards.

He also becomes the first Premier League player to win since former Liverpool forward Michael Owen in 2001, and the first Portuguese player since winger Luis Figo won it with Real Madrid in 2000.

France Football's award was decided by an annual poll of football journalists with a short list of 30 players.

Following Portugal's disappointing showing at the European Championship in June, Ronaldo underwent an operation to his troublesome right ankle injury in July that then kept him sidelined until September 17.

Rooney’s 100th seals derby

Manchester United overcome a late surge from City to prevail 1-0; Cristiano Ronaldo is sent off for a hand ball

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the third time in his Manchester United career as Wayne Rooney’s 100th goal in club football sealed a 1-0 victory for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men against Manchester City at Eastlands on Sunday. Rooney’s goal — his first in seven games — settled the 150th meeting between the Manchester neighbours and cemented United in third spot in the Premier League.

But United were forced to play the final twenty-one minutes with ten men after Ronaldo was dismissed for handling the ball from Rooney’s corner — his second booking in the space of nine minutes.

With five other players booked, United now face an FA fine for failing to control their players, but Ferguson will not be concerned by that having sealed a crucial victory. City hadn’t landed back in Manchester until early on Friday morning following their UEFA Cup tie against Schalke in Germany, and United went into this game with the advantage of having had an extra two days to prepare.

The extra freshness within the United ranks showed in the first half as the European champions dominated possession and created the best chances. Not for the first time this season, though, Ferguson’s team failed to capitalise on their early dominance and, just as happened at Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal earlier this campaign, United struggled to kill off their bitter rivals.

The visitors could have gone ahead as early as the eighth minute when City keeper Joe Hart fumbled a Rooney shot, but Darren Fletcher failed to convert the loose ball from six yards.

Villarreal v Manchester United

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is undecided if he should play Cristiano Ronaldo in Tuesday's Champions League tie at Villarreal.

The winger limped out of Saturday's 0-0 draw at Aston Villa but has pleaded to play after training on Monday.

"It's a problem. I would rather leave him out," said Ferguson.

Darren Fletcher returns from a knee injury but Dimitar Berbatov and Gary Neville are out, while Tomasz Kuszczak replaces the rested Edwin van der Sar.

Ferguson said: "We are giving another goalkeeper an opportunity and experience. There is no better experience than a European tie away from home."

United need a point in Spain to reach the Champions League knockout stages and Ronaldo was initially rated as doubtful by Ferguson after he was substituted late on at Villa Park.

But United's boss has changed his tune and stated: "Cristiano got a lot of whacks on Saturday. He got a few cuts but nothing serious.

"When players show that enthusiasm to play you don't deter them you encourage it."

Striker Berbatov is missing the trip to Spain because of a hamstring injury picked up on international duty for Bulgaria last week.

Neville is still nursing a groin strain suffered in the Carling Cup win over QPR and is likely to be out of action for a couple of weeks.

Ferguson expects a rough ride against Villarreal, particularly from former United striker Giuseppe Rossi.

The Italian looks set to start but fellow strikers Nihat Kahveci and Joseba Llorente are out because of injuries, midfielder Diego Godin has a hamstring problem and Jozy Altidore is also unavailable.

"We think very highly of him. He was a fantastic young player for us," Ferguson said of Rossi.

"The problem was satisfying him with regards to first-team football. It was very difficult for me.

"When Villarreal made a good offer for him one of the conditions was that we had an option to buy him if they ever sold him.

"That is the situation. He is a Villarreal player and I am sure they want him to stay with them. He is doing very well."



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Manchester United (from): Foster, Kuszczak, Rafael, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Park, Anderson, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, Tevez, Possebon, Gibson, Manucho.

Villarreal v Manchester United - Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to be fit

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to be fit for Tuesday's Champions League tie at Villarreal after training on Monday.

With the Portuguese winger limping out of Saturday's 0-0 draw at Aston Villa, boss Sir Alex Ferguson had said his leg was in a "mess" and was a major doubt.

Darren Fletcher looks to have recovered from a knee injury, but Gary Neville and Dimitar Berbatov are out.

Edwin Van der Sar is rested with Tomasz Kuszczak or Ben Foster ready for duty.

Berbatov is missing the trip to Spain with a hamstring injury picked up on international duty for Bulgaria last week.

Neville is still nursing a groin strain picked up in the Carling Cup win over QPR and is likely to be missing for a couple of weeks.

United need a point in Spain to reach the Champions League knockout stages.

Manchester United squad: Foster, Kuszczak, Rafael, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Park, Anderson, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, Tevez, Possebon, Gibson, Manucho.

When Hansen came up against Diego Maradona

Just under 30 years ago, I played against current Argentina coach Diego Maradona when he scored his first goal for his country against Scotland at Hampden Park on 2 June, 1979.

Maradona was 18 at the time, and if ever one player was destined to be the greatest player in the world it was him.

You talk about the young players in this country, and we have one who is destined to win all the biggest awards in the coming weeks in Cristiano Ronaldo, but Maradona eclipsed him.

This is in no way meant as any criticism of Ronaldo, but he would not be in the same stratosphere as Maradona. It was June and the hottest day in Glasgow for 30 years and we could hardly get near him. He was just magnificent. Unbelievable, and just a kid as well.

You look at his achievements in winning the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and inspiring them to the final and you see how good he was, but there are other stories as well.

He captained a Rest of the World team in one match, playing alongside Michel Platini, who was one of the best passers of the ball the game had ever seen, but even he was standing open-mouthed at some of the stuff Maradona was doing.

I can remember when I played against him that the ball was almost stuck to his feet. He had the most amazingly quick feet - again people talk about the quickness of Ronaldo's feet, and there is no doubt he is exceptional, but Maradona was just something else.

He was massively strong, scored goals, ran the game and was just the most fantastic talent.

When we played against him, Argentina were the reigning world champions from the previous summer and had people like Mario Kempes and Leopoldo Luque playing for them, the big stars of that World Cup. Maradona was actually 10 times better than them.

And he was so tough. I remember my old Liverpool team-mate Phil Neal telling me he put in a hard tackle on in him early on when England played Argentina a year later, as defenders did in those days, and he said Maradona didn't even flinch. He didn't even go down. He just had everything.

Sometimes you see these young players who have a lot of hype surrounding them, but we all knew that day that this was a player who was going to be the best in the world and he proved us all right.

Ton up for Ronaldo

Champions United leapfrogged Arsenal into third place and eradicated memories of last weekend’s defeat by knocking five goals past Stoke at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo book-ended the win with free-kicks right at the start and right at the end of a one-sided contest.

Michael Carrick claimed United’s second just before half-time, Dimitar Berbatov ended the contest four minutes after the break and, with United strolling, youngster Danny Welbeck came off the bench to score a memorable first goal for the club from well outside the box.

Arsenal’s title challenge suffered a hammer blow on Saturday as a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa left them nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

Arsene Wenger’s side suffered their first two-goal defeat at the Emirates Stadium. An own goal by Gael Clichy and a Gabriel Agbonlahor strike revived Villa’s hopes of Champions League football next season and it could have been worse for the Gunners if Manuel Almunia had not saved Ashley Young’s first-half penalty.

Liverpool’s win came courtesy of headers in either half from Dirk Kuyt and captain Steven Gerrard. Liverpool’s first-half dominance saw Kuyt give his side a 28th-minute lead with a looping header.

Man Utd 1-0 QPR

Carlos Tevez struck from the penalty spot in the 76th minute as Manchester United edged into the quarter finals of the Carling Cup following a dour match.

The Argentine made no mistake from the spot after substitute Danny Welbeck had been felled by Peter Ramage, but it was far from a vintage United performance.

Ji-Sung Park earlier hit a post but a much-changed United side failed to turn their utter dominance into chances.

QPR defended throughout, though Samuel di Carmine had a late effort ruled out.

The Italian forced home from close range but the official's flag was the right call - and an equaliser would have been unjust given the visitors' reticence to attack.

For their part, United totally dominated possession but - with Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Cristiano Ronaldo rested - attacks constantly misfired.

Still, eight changes to the starting line-up that went down 2-1 to Arsenal at the weekend perhaps explains the disjointed display United produced.

On the day news broke that Owen Hargreaves will be out for the rest of the season with knee trouble, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have been pleased to see Rodrigo Possebon pulling the strings in midfield.

But United struggled to create many clear-cut chances, Tevez forcing a fine, low save with a stinging shot before Rangers keeper Radek Cerny almost let in Ji-Sung Park when he spilled Anderson's effort.

Those were the highlights of a largely drab opening half and things barely got better at the start of the second, with Nani, Anderson and Park all guilty of wayward passes.

Park nearly provided the breakthrough on the hour mark, blazing a 30-yard effort against the post after good work by Rafael da Silva and minutes later Tevez forced Cerny to tip over from 12 yards.

QPR finally managed their very first effort on goal on 73 minutes when Dexter Blackstock brought an easy save out of Tomasz Kuszczak.

Three minutes later Nani burst into the box well and laid the ball to Welbeck, who was clearly felled by Ramage.

Tevez, who has regularly been left out of the United starting line-up in recent weeks, made no mistake from the spot, sending Cerny the wrong way.

Rangers finally rallied following the goal and after Di Carmine's effort had been rightly ruled out, Emmanuel Ledesma fired wide of the goal after Blackstock's shot had been saved.

It was commendable effort at the end of the match from the visitors, but few could argue United deserved the win and to go through to the last eight of the competition.

Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson:
"Danny Welbeck changed the game for us, really, and I'm really pleased with him. He gave us something different and earned the all important penalty.

"He's only recently back from a groin injury but now that he's fit he's very much in the first-team picture.

"The only area that has been letting us down of late - and it showed again tonight - is taking our chances. But the goals will come, I'm sure."

QPR caretaker manager Gareth Ainsworth on injuries to Gavin Mahon, Lee Cook and Daniel Parejo:

"They are problems we could do without. I will be making changes on Saturday against Burnley that's for sure.

"We have given a good account of ourselves and this is a fairytale for me.

"But we are back down to earth at Burnley on Saturday. The Championship is important for us. We have massive ambition and we want to get out of it."

Cristiano Ronaldo's representatives in talks with Old Trafford hierarchy over new deal

Having fought off sustained interest from Real Madrid to hold onto the Portugal international during the summer, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill have admitted that next summer will be crucial to deciding Ronaldo's long-term future at the club.

And although United are prepared to wait until the end of the current campaign before drawing up new terms for Ronaldo, who is only 18 months into £125,000-a-week five-year contract, Mendes is understood to have discussed the broad outline of plans to extend Ronaldo's deal should the player reject anticipated overtures from Madrid next summer.

Despite pledging his immediate future to United in August by admitting defeat in his attempt to secure a move to the Bernabeu, Ronaldo has still to win over those supporters angry at his perceived betrayal of the club by openly pursuing a transfer.

Ronaldo's 42 goals in all competitions last season proved the crucial factor in United's success in winning both the Premier League and Champions League and his efforts were recognised with both the PFA and Football Writers' Footballer of the Year awards last May.

Ronaldo, recently voted the FifPro World Player of the Year, is also expected to be crowned European and World Footballer of the Year in the coming weeks. His status as football's leading global figure ensures that Madrid will retain an interest in the player, despite claims by president Ramon Calderon that their pursuit of Ronaldo is over.

United are determined to end the speculation involving Ronaldo and Real by ultimately securing him to a long-term contract that would take him close to the £160,000-a-week package paid to Robinho at Manchester City.

If United fail to tie Ronaldo to a new contract next summer, they risk losing him for the remaining value of his contract – approximately £12 million – in June 2010 if he opts to exploit the obscure Webster ruling – FIFA's Article 17 – that enables players who signed a contract before the age of 28 to buy themselves out of the deal.

The Webster ruling, so-called following Hearts defender Andy Webster's decision to exploit Article 17 in order to move to Wigan Athletic in 2006, has yet to be used by a player at a leading club, but Ferguson admitted earlier this month that he and United are confident that Ronaldo's situation will not result in his exploitation of Webster. Ferguson said: "Next summer will be a key element of his [Ronaldo's] contract situation because he will have three years left then.

"That's comfortable enough because I think the big clubs will shy away from that [Webster ruling] because it could happen to them. I don't think it will be an issue."

Real are close to completing a deal for a player labelled the 'new Ronaldo', however, after holding talks with the 16-year-old Brazilian Alipio Brandao.

Brandao, is currently with Portuguese club Rio Ave and he has also been linked with Chelsea in recent weeks.

Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd

Samir Nasri struck twice as Arsenal beat Manchester United and delivered an emphatic confirmation of manager Arsene Wenger's belief that they are still serious Premier League contenders.

Nasri's deflected shot opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and he doubled their advantage three minutes after the interval with a powerful finish from Cesc Fabregas's precise pass.

Substitute Rafael volleyed United back into contention with a minute of normal time left - but Arsenal survived six extra minutes and an outbreak of mass anxiety at the Emirates to clinch the three points.

It was a victory they merited, with United creating and wasting chances but never carrying the same sense of self-belief as Arsenal in a highly charged atmosphere.

Arsenal have suffered 10 days of soul-searching and criticism after allowing Spurs to secure an unlikely draw and losing in acrimonious circumstances at Stoke City but they responded with an almost open show of defiance on and off the pitch.

They even had the strength of character to cope with losing goalkeeper Manuel Almunia to injury in the closing stages to keep United at bay.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have been frustrated by his side's wastefulness, with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo guilty of throwing away obvious openings, but he can have no serious complaints about the result.
For Arsenal, this performance and result will have only made Wenger - who was given noisy vocal backing throughout the game - even more entrenched in his belief that he will not sacrifice his principles for a more physical style of play.

Arsenal were without injured Emmanuel Adebayor and the suspended Robin van Persie, while United predictably restored Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov after the Champions League draw at Celtic.

But Arsenal looked anything but under-strength in a vibrant first 45 minutes that brought a host of chances at both ends and a deserved lead for Wenger's side.

It was United, however, who had the first opportunity when Arsenal keeper Almunia inexplicably picked up a backpass from Mikael Silvestre inside the first two minutes.

Arsenal were relieved when Anderson's free-kick was half-cleared and Michael Carrick turned the loose ball wide.

Wenger appeared to have instructed Arsenal to probe United's right-flank, where Gary Neville looked desperately uncomfortable at the start of what was a harrowing afternoon for the England defender.

Gael Clichy's cross was headed off target by Nicklas Bendtner, who then failed to get on the end of another dangerous ball from Nasri.

Rooney missed an even better chance for United after 17 minutes, carelessly lofting an inviting ball from Ronaldo over the top when it seemed certain he would score.

Arsenal took full advantage of the reprieve to take the lead five minutes later, when Nasri's shot took a crucial deflection off Neville and wrong-footed Edwin van der Sar.

It was a wonderfully open game but Arsenal were playing like a team stung by recent criticism and the sight of old rivals United had only inspired them further.

Fabregas had a shot deflected just wide but United were threatening themselves and Almunia needed to save well from Ji-Sung Park.

If there was a frustration for Arsenal, it would have been that the crucial second goal had eluded them, despite their dominance.

They did not have to wait long to get it as Nasri doubled their advantage three minutes after the restart.

Fabregas was at the centre of affairs again, punishing United for failing to pick up Nasri when he threaded through a perfect pass for the France midfield man to beat Van der Sar with an emphatic finish.

United, uncharacteristically, were lacking a cutting edge and wasted a perfect opportunity to grasp at a lifeline immediately after Arsenal's goal.

Park found Ronaldo unmarked at the far post but he dragged his shot across the face of goal with only Almunia to beat.

Almunia then required lengthy treatment after an accidental clash with Carrick as United refused to give up on the belief that they could get back into an enthralling encounter.

He carried on but was clearly in discomfort and was replaced by Lukasz Fabianski with 12 minutes left.

United also replaced Rooney with Carlos Tevez and Anderson with Ryan Giggs in what was clearly a last throw of the dice by Ferguson as time ran out.

Rafael, who had replaced Neville in the 63rd minute, pulled one back in the final minute with a spectacular left-foot volley from the edge of the box after Arsenal failed to clear a Giggs cross.

Almunia's injury meant six minutes of injury time but United could not create another chance and Arsenal's fans and players celebrated wildly at the end.

Maradona, Mascherano and philosophy

Sometimes nicknamed the Philosopher of Football, Argentine legend Jorge Valdano is probably best known for scoring the South American nation's second goal in their 3-2 win over West Germany in the 1986 World Cup final in Mexico.

His career started in 1971 with Newell's Old Boys before he moved to Spanish side Deportivo Alaves four years later.

In 1979 the striker joined Real Zaragoza, where he scored 46 goals in 143 matches, and that form earned him a transfer to Real Madrid, the club he eventually ended his playing career with in 1987.

After a spell coaching the Spanish giants' youth team, he took over at Tenerife before going on to guide Real Madrid to the Spanish title in 1994/95.

He spent one year at Valencia before returning once again to the Bernabeu where he became sporting director until his resignation in 2005.

The 53-year-old is the author of five books, including Suenos de futbol (Football Dreams).

Here Valdano gives BBC Sport his views on Diego Maradona, who is set to take over as Argentina coach, and his two compatriots Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez and Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano. He also discusses his future and that of football before answering questions posed by website users on the 606 forum.

You have said of Diego Maradona's second goal against England in the 1986 World Cup: "I am certain I can describe it much better than he could. But I could never have scored it." How would you describe it? What is your abiding memory of Maradona, both as a player and a person?

With that sentence I only wanted to establish the difference between narrative intelligence and footballing intelligence. The first has more prestige but the second has more complexity.

I wrote various articles about that goal and I stand by what I said then. Great football, to me, is the art to improvise, to find solutions, and that goal was the perfect demonstration.

As for Maradona, he was a genetic miracle, a man whom nature endowed with extraordinary abilities and who, moreover, grew up in the right place to achieve his potential.

On the field he demonstrated an ability to be a generous man, both committed and brave.

The people who said terrible things about Maradona are the same people who forget that it is necessary to judge geniuses by their deeds and not by their life


Do you see yourself remaining as a commentator on football or would you like to return as a coach or a sporting director? How does writing about football compare with playing football?

I like to come in and out of football, so I never rule out a comeback. I believe this game, when you live it with so much intensity, can make you deranged.

It is vital to take time out now and then to recover perspective. From that point of view, writing helps you reflect. The differences? When you write you can make changes until you are happy with the result; football, like music, does not allow corrections.

My best memory, and at the same time the greatest achievement, is winning the World Cup in 1986. That is the only thing which gives an idea of reaching the summit.

I am a good reader but find it very difficult to choose between Argentine writers Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortazar and the Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

What has given you the most pleasure in your career - playing, coaching or writing?

My love for football began as a player. That is my vocation. The trouble is that every player has his sell-by date. Everything else is compensation for the nostalgia that the player feels.

Do you remain pessimistic or optimistic about the future of football?

I am a realist. Football is a metaphor for the time and place you are playing in. He who does not agree with the evolution of football does not believe in the evolution of the world.


What is your assessment of 20-year-old Argentina and Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero as a player?

Sergio Aguero is a fascinating player with a wide repertoire - technical, creative, powerful, daring and destabilising. His well-above-average strength is a particular talent.

His weakness is that he forms part of a collective who do not exalt him. Anything that Cristiano Ronaldo achieves at Manchester United, or Lionel Messi does for Barcelona, has more market value that anything Aguero does for Atletico. That's life… and business.

In any case, Aguero is still a boy and perhaps it would be good for him to mature at a club who hold him in the highest regard.

Cristiano Ronaldo pledges to win back the hearts of Manchester United fans

The Portuguese winger was involved in a long-running transfer saga over the summer and was quoted as saying he wanted to move to Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old eventually stayed at Old Trafford, and he has drawn parallels with the reaction he faced after the World Cup two years ago, where he was vilified for his part in Wayne Rooney's red card in England's quarter-final defeat.

"A part of the supporters show themselves to be more unhappy than others. But I hope to change their minds," he said.

"When I put on the United shirt I give my maximum. Nobody can condemn me on this.

"I hope it will be similar to when I came back to England after the 2006 World Cup and I can win the fans back."

United were critical of Madrid's approach and refused to sell their star asset, but Ronaldo insists it was his decision to stay.

"Nobody can convince me about anything," he said. "Since I was young I've had to make decisions, I make them alone.

"I want to win more at this club. If the boss thinks I have to stay on the bench I respect that, even if it's difficult."

Meanwhile, Carlos Tevez has said he is happy at United, despite struggling to keep a regular place in the starting line up.

The Argentinian striker was a key player in United's Champions League and Premier League double last season, after moving from West Ham, but Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov have been preferred to Tevez in recent weeks.

With Cristiano Ronaldo now fully fit as well, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he faces a difficult balancing act up front.

Tevez's two-year loan deal expires next summer and he is yet to sign a permanent contract, but he insists he is not thinking of leaving.

He told the Daily Mail: "This season is proving more complicated than any other and it is difficult for me to get in the team. The competition with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov is intense.

"This club have the most talented forward line in England and the manager has decided that we cannot all play in the team at the same time. I want to play more and the coach knows this.

"But I have no problem with him. We have spoken. There is no way I would want to leave this club. I insist I am calm.

"I have confidence in the coach and he has in me. In this sport it is necessary to be patient and I will be."

Ronaldo named FIFPro World Player of the Year

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo was named FIFPro World Player of the Year on Monday.

"To be recognised by my fellow professional players worldwide coming from over 50,000 players is amazing," the 23-year-old Portugal player, who helped his club to a Premier League and Champions League double last season, said in comments posted on the FIFPro website (fifpro.org).

FIFPro is the worldwide representative organisation for professional players, with 42 national players' associations as members.

Two late Spurs goals stun Arsenal in 4-4 draw

Tottenham Hotspur continued their revival under Harry Redknapp, coming from 4-2 down in the 89th minute to snatch a 4-4 draw at Arsenal in a pulsating north London derby on Wednesday.

Spurs, bottom of the Premier League despite beating Bolton Wanderers in new manager Redknapp's first game on Sunday, led with a stunning David Bentley volley but needed late goals by Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon to claim an unlikely point.

An inexplicable handball by Portsmouth's Papa Bouba Diop enabled Steven Gerrard to score a late penalty to earn a 1-0 home win that maintained Liverpool's three-point lead.

Second-placed Chelsea, beaten at home by Liverpool at the weekend, recovered well with a convincing 3-0 victory at Hull City highlighted by a superb Frank Lampard goal.

Manchester United were 2-0 home winners over West Ham United, both goals by Cristiano Ronaldo, while Aston Villa moved into the top four when they came from behind to record a 3-2 home victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Liverpool have 26 points from 10 games and Chelsea 23 points. Arsenal, Villa and Hull have 20 with sixth-placed Manchester United on 18.

Spurs got off to a stunning start when Arsenal old boy Bentley teed up and crashed home a dipping 40-metre effort.

However, Arsenal soon took charge with headers by centre backs Mikael Silvestre and William Gallas either side of halftime and a third by Emmanuel Adebayor.

Darren Bent made it 3-2 but when Robin van Persie banged in Arsenal's fourth after 68 minutes it looked all over.

Jenas, though, struck in the 89th and, after a Luka Modric volley came back off the post, substitute Lennon swept home the equaliser four minutes into stoppage time.

"It was amazing, a throwback to the old days," Redknapp told Sky Sports television.

"It's been a good week so far after a good win on Sunday," said Redknapp, who took over from Juande Ramos at the weekend.

Spurs remain bottom on six points but the whole mood around the club has changed in a matter of days.

"There are some good players here but certain parts of our game lets us down," said former Portsmouth manager Redknapp. "The dressing room is buzzing and we go into Saturday's game against Liverpool with some confidence."

Bentley said: "We showed character and spirit, a lot of people have questioned that over our recent games but we showed there that we are willing to fight for every point.

"Certain things have gone on, we've sorted them out now and are all pulling in the right direction."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger sank to his knees as Lennon's goal hit the net.

Wenger said: "I'm angry because we produced an outstanding performance but got the minimum result. We were at a level above Tottenham but got only one point.

"They were there for the taking, could have got five or six but we tried to keep the ball negatively and paid for it.

"The team has outstanding potential but we are immature and need to be guarded in the decisive moments."

Real Madrid drop Ronaldo interest

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon says his club's interest in Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo is over.

The 23-year-old winger, who is under contract at Old Trafford until 2012, was heavily linked with a switch to Spain earlier this year.

"Manchester (United) would not like to lose him - that is the situation," Calderon told Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"They are very clear about that so now it is a situation we have to forget."

The Portuguese international netted 41 goals last season for United and Real coach Bernd Schuster publicly declared his desire to have him at the Bernebeu next summer.

But Calderon admits that now appears to be an impossibility for the current La Liga holders.

"Manchester didn't want to sell over the last three or four months but we don't want to get into trouble with them as they are one of the biggest clubs in the world," he added.

"You can never be sure what will happen in the future but Real Madrid want to have a good relationship with Manchester.

"We do not want disturb them in any way over any possible signing that they are not willing to accept.

"We know it is not easy to sign players from big clubs in the middle of the season.

"I don't think we'll sign anyone unless we have any serious injuries."