Man Utd's Rooney: Ronaldo clearly best on planet

[FerrariTifosi27]

Wayne Rooney rates Manchester United teammate as "by far the best player in the world".
At the World Cup last summer, the young duo famously clashed during England's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Portugal.

Many pundits, and some senior figures among Rooney's international colleagues, were unhappy at Ronaldo's part in his club-mate's dismissal in Gelsenkirchen.

Although he admitted afterwards he was disappointed with Ronaldo's conduct, Rooney was quick to forgive the winger and happy to put the past to one side in a combined effort to bring glory to Old Trafford.

"At the minute, Cristiano is by far the best player in the world," said Rooney. "His performances have been unbelievable. He is winning games on his own this season. He has been unbelievable.

"Hopefully he can work some of his magic and get us into the semi-finals."

Five times in Champions League history United have attempted to overturn a first-leg deficit in knockout combat, and five times they have failed.

The latest occasion came against AC Milan three years ago, when Rooney and Ronaldo were both involved, but too raw and inexperienced to have any kind of influence on the overall outcome.

"We were still young and trying to learn the game," said Rooney.

"Playing against the likes of (Paolo) Maldini and (Alessandro) Nesta gives you a good platform to learn from. I feel we have both improved as players since then, and matured a lot."

With Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Park Ji-sung and Louis Saha missing through injury, and Paul Scholes suspended following his needless red card in the Stadio Olimpico, Rooney and Ronaldo will certainly need to rise to the occasion if United are to book a semi-final meeting with either Milan or Bayern Munich.

Rooney's goal at least gives United heart, especially after producing such a battling performance during a game when they were down to 10 men for almost an hour.

"There has been a lot of talk about the fact I have not scored for a while in the Champions League," said Rooney.

"Hopefully now the talking will stop and I can concentrate on trying to get more goals.

"I don't know why I had not scored. I have had chances. Maybe I should have scored on some occasions, on others the keeper has made good saves. But obviously, it is a relief to finally get the goal."

[Valentino]

go to italy and then we will see if you are the best on the planet but you will stay in england like henry comfortable against the joke defending and then act as if you are the best

[Cruyff #14]

Get it through your head. Seria A is NOT the best league in the world.
It is one of the best but not the best. Just because he hasnt played in italy doesnt mean he isnt the best player in the world.

[The one and only]

Get it through your head. Seria A is NOT the best league in the world.
It is one of the best but not the best. Just because he hasnt played in italy doesnt mean he isnt the best player in the world.

agreed

[LFTWNG11]

go to italy and then we will see if you are the best on the planet but you will stay in england like henry comfortable against the joke defending and then act as if you are the best

[delfino_1936]

go to italy and then we will see if you are the best on the planet but you will stay in england like henry comfortable against the joke defending and then act as if you are the best

disagree bout henry part....one he played right wing....so really he didnt have many oppurtunities to score

and btw he scored a gr8 free kick against Juve in champs league....ripped Inter apart in 04 scoring 2 at the San Siro

[Gunnersboy]

WHen was the last time an italian team won the champions league
HAvnt won it since but english sides have barca have oh even porto have ITalian league is not all that great and they r just cheats

[Piola]

It was only 3 yrs since there was an all Italian final. There was an Italian side in the final in 2005 and there have been Italian sides reaching the semis for several years straight.

[Gunnersboy]

get your facts straight buddy
barca -2006
before that liverpool -2005
before that porto won -2004

[Gunnersboy]

NO italian team featured in the last champions league final

[Juventino]

No English team was in the 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, finals, whats your point?

[INTERISTA]

No English team was in the 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, finals, whats your point?

check mate

[Juventino]

Just to add, in that same period, Italian clubs were in the final 7 times, including an all Italian final in 03 (we are yet to see an all English final) and every year from 1993-1998.

[Gunnersboy]

Thats all in the past its ancient now all that matters is english prem league teams dominate now

[Juventino]

Ah so losing a final in 2006 means the EPL is dominating does it? What English sides did in the 70s and 80s was dominating, what Italian sides did in he late 80s and up to the late 90s is dominating (in both CL and UEFA Cup), what English clubs are doing now, no way is this domination.

[Lilly Whites]

Liverpool beat AC Milan

ow ow ow ow cheeerz

[Gunnersboy]

thats all in the past 3 english teams through 1 italian

[Crazy-North]

This topic is a joke. Both leagues are very strong and always have been and have provided champion teams which have dominated in different eras. Both leagues are strong and the majority of italian teams are capable of beating england teams vise versa. So instead of being biased just accept the fact that both these countries will continue the tradition of providing champions one year it will be inter, den liverpool, den man utd, den ac milan etc etc and they should not be compared as they have different qualities and values to each other and both deserve a great amount of respect.