"We cannot fear Cristiano Ronaldo" - Ferguson

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists his team cannot fear former player Cristiano Ronaldo as he returns to Old Trafford for the Champions League last 16 second leg with Real Madrid.

The Portuguese superstar will spearhead the attack for the Spanish champions, having scored the goal which ensured the two sides finished level 1-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu three weeks ago.

Ronaldo enjoyed six brilliant seasons with the English club before making a world record £80million move in the summer of 2009 and Ferguson, while acknowledging his former charge to be the biggest threat to United’s chances of progressing, believes his team can’t afford to live in fear of him.

“It is not something we should fear,” he said. “If we worry about the danger Cristiano can give us we will forget some of the things we can do ourselves.

“What do you expect when you play against a team with Cristiano in it? You expect problems during the match. We have to try to curtail that as much as we can and as best we can. The experience young Rafael had in the first half in Madrid hopefully helps him because he will be given the same task again.

“My biggest concern is that he turns up!”

Having described the first leg as “the match the world wants to see”, Ferguson believes the second installment can be just as enthralling.

“Both teams are in form,” he said. “Real have had two fantastic results against Barcelona. I saw the first one and they were absolutely superb. They have found form at the right time and our form has been consistent for quite a while.

“As a European game they don’t get any bigger than this one. This is two great clubs with great history. It is set up to be potentially a marvellous game and I don’t think it will be a disappointment either.”


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