The Spanish press had it spot on. For all the talk about this being the year Cristiano Ronaldo would take the Palme d’Or (as Fergie so memorably put it before the Roma quarter-final), last night in the Nou Camp was always going to be about Paul Scholes.
El Pais had marvelled on Wednesday morning at how el pequeno pelirrojo de mil pecas lidera de nuevo a su cuadro (the little red-head with a thousand freckles) would “lead his side anew,” in the Champions League semi-final.
How right they were. Ronaldo might have left the stadium as self-confident as ever last night (“I’m always confident. I’ll score in Manchester...") but the man he has yet to hold a candle to is the one who’d rather have been back home in Saddleworth Moor this morning to run the kids to school, rather than hanging around in Barcelona for today’s direct flight to London ahead of United's clash with Chelsea.
OK, Ronaldo was stranded up front and alone last night, deprived of much service because of his side’s inability to hold on to the ball for more than two minutes. But while he was performing the theatrics worthy of a Palme d’Or winner – animated protests at every other turn, (the challenge on him by Marquez was not a penalty) – Scholes was quietly getting to grips with Messi and Iniesta. Ball retention: superb. Tackling: surprisingly good.
There's been a suggestion that the man's less frequent appearances in opposing penalty boxes of late make him a lesser mortal than he was. He has only one goal this season - and that one the speculative though spectacular punt at Fratton Park. But consider a few of his contributions in the past few weeks. The way he cut away to the right in Rome to receive a pass and clipped an exquisite cross which Ronaldo deposited with that thunderous header. Or the way he stole into the box, having spent most of the game outside it, at Ewood Park, and nodded Nani's corner onto Carlos Tevez's head for last Saturday's equaliser. Or even the pass out left which Wayne Rooney crossed for the opener against Liverpool in a match where, as Alex Ferguson said, Scholes was "head and shoulders above every other player on the pitch."
Compare Ronaldo on each of these occasions. Early on in Rome, thumping the pitch in fury after a 20-minute opening which, before that header of his, made it appear that Roma had the measure of him. It could have gone either way. Against Blackburn and Liverpool - anonymous.
What's most distinctive about the performances is the opposition. Scholes delivers against the toughest sides; Ronaldo doesn't. It almost escaped attention that last night was Scholes' 100th European occasion. No captain's armband for the occasion, like Ryan Giggs in Lyons. "He'd hate that idea," his manager had said. The drive simply comes of knowing, as Scholes said recently, that "there isn't much time left so I have to enjoy it" and it yields amazing results.
The same can't be said of his team-mate. 38 goals or no, maybe the Palme d'Or, rather Balon d'Or, is right for him just yet.
I totally agree. Scholes was magnifacent,and as the Irish TV soccer pundits put is last night 'Ronaldo was a disgrace'. His theatrics though out the night gave a very poor account of the man. He was (as he was in Rome) frustrated at playing the lone striker starved of possession. He made sure everyone could see his displeasure with his frequent gestures of exascerbation to his own team mates. Yes this man can score goals for his team, will he ever learn to play for his team?
Posted by: Eamonn | 24 April 2008 at 03:00 PM
Ronaldo's performance: indicative of the root problem of the modern game, where 21 year olds are given £100,000 a week.
Posted by: Ross Hartley | 24 April 2008 at 03:39 PM
GOOD POINTS MADE..
HOWEVER..YOU CANNOT COMPARE THE TWO AT ALL..
SURE SCHOLES PERFORMANCE LAST NIGHT was PHENOMENAL, but simply because RONALDO misses a PK is the main reason why all these comments are made..HAD RONALDO SCORED THE PK..YOU WOulda POSTED..ONCE AGAIN RONALDO'S GOAL CARRIES TEAM TO VICTORY !! RIGHT??...
LETS THINK BOUT IT FOR A SECOND...1...OKAY..
THANK YOU!!
THIS IS CRISTIANO RONALDO's YEAR..NOONE ELSES!!
Posted by: fReddY MonaRez | 24 April 2008 at 04:28 PM
Another non-penalty, like the 2 ( or was it 3 or 4) against Blackburn ? Quite clearly a pen, just like Distin's ludicrous 'challenge' in the cup game. Mind you, Rio could have had one given against him last night.
Posted by: DJB | 24 April 2008 at 04:35 PM
I love these type of articles. CR can't play verse the big boys. Again this is English rubbish. For Euro's and WC has has proven very capable. He has scored against every EPL team except Chelsea and Man city. He is also Champion league leading scorer. Against Barca the man was hacked down at every time he had the ball(a tactic used by Portsmouth). Watch the game again. Fergie bungled this one Should have played Tevez or Rooney up front with Ronaldo on one side and Nani on the other. The full backs would not be able to assist on the attack as both have ridiculous speed. I believe Fergie will play this line up as it will put pressure on Barca. For all you manchester fans who don't like Ronaldo's attitude why don't you petition to sell him. I am sure there will be planty of takers with Real Madrid and Barca being at the top.
Posted by: Joe | 24 April 2008 at 09:06 PM
judging ronaldo on one kick is pathetic paul skolls is great brilliant even but to take that away from the footballing god(c.ronaldo) is just not right. by the way your little friend also qouted ronaldo was the best he has ever worked with. or and wat about the time when kaka admited he was the best player in the world just a couple of weeks ago or and wat about the time when goerge best even admitted that ronaldo had greater talents that he ever did. oh yea remember how wayne rooney said he was the best in the world. budy wake up u
Posted by: lachlan russell | 24 April 2008 at 09:49 PM
Scholes did play well, but he also got caught in possession several times and it was only Barca's profligacy in front of goal that stopped him (and several others) being embarrassed. Waddle is right when he says the spanish league is more technical. However, this isn't necessarily always the most effective. As for Ronaldo, he is yet to dominate a semi final or final of a major competition (Euros, World Cup, European Cup only). He'll come good though - pure class.
Posted by: Nick | 24 April 2008 at 11:05 PM
It would be interesting to know how many clubs would turn down the opportunity to field CR in their team due his inability to perform in the ‘big game’!
Posted by: GJS | 25 April 2008 at 09:15 AM
The match at the Nou Camp suited Scholes style more than Ronaldo's. As you say, Ronaldo had absolutely no support at all. I think that it was United's worst performance in years. You might even call it embarassing given all the hype around the team this season. Ronaldo at least tried to push the envelope a bit a really should been awarded a penalty in the second half. He is still The Best Player in the World ( http://thebestplayerintheworld.blogspot.com ) by a wide margin. And really it is the other way around - Scholes is the supporting actor. But he shouldn't be up for the best supporting actor award given how little offensive support he and his teammates gave to Ronaldo.
Posted by: Best Player | 25 April 2008 at 12:18 PM
Scholes has been in patchy form since returning from his injury. I've been arguing he still has a lot to offer with United fans who believe he is past his best and should be replaced by Anderson in the starting line-up. But this article picks out one or two details that support a certain argument and ignores plenty of others. Picking out the Roma game, and that first goal, is a case in point - wasn't Ronaldo's incredible determination, bravery and execution just as important in making the breakthrough as Scholes' clipped cross, and for that matter Rooney's ability to make space and slip the ball forward for Scholes? Ronaldo was isolated in Wednesday's game and would only have been constantly involved if he had broken with the role he had been given. I quite understand that Ronaldo is much more of a big-head and not the kind of footballer's footballer that Scholes is but all in all this article is just not very clever.
Posted by: TS | 25 April 2008 at 12:19 PM
It is exceedingg odd that a best footballer would have bend his torso forward so that the centre of gravity of the whole body is somewhere in front of his legs when he is going to use his leg to execute the penalty kick in a big game. Any slightest perturbation of the centre of gravity would have foil the penalty kick. This is what happened. Best footballer?
Posted by: Kafka | 26 April 2008 at 08:13 AM
ha ronaldo best in the world , best joke ive heard in a while , kaka, messi, fabregas , drogba , scholes , rooney, raul , pirlo and torres all make that fella look useless, fair enough he can score goals against wigan , west ham and other terrible clubs in the premiership , wen did he ever play well at top level such as against barca dis season and milan last season wen he was up against kaka nd messi , dats rite he didnt play well . and it only seems too be big headed united supporters that like him , fair enough kaka said ronaldo was the best dis season but thats cuz he cant say himself
Posted by: scotty | 05 May 2008 at 08:05 PM
I think a lot of fans who hate Man Utd also hate Ronaldo. Thats the bottom line. Everyone seems to forget that Ronaldo is always being man-marked and sometimes by two players and not one. Soon as he recieves the ball, the markers commit themselves and start flying in. This realese other players like scholes and gives them more time on the ball. Many also say that he cannot perform on the big stage. I think this summer with Potrugal (Euro 2008) he will prove all his critics wrong. He will be the man of the moment in Euro 2008 and all eyes would be on him. Not Pirlo, Tores, Fabregas Raul or others. Also with so many big names at Man Utd, he is one of the highest paid. I'm sure Man Utd's accountants and backroom staff are not that stupid.
Posted by: Manchester United Credit Card | 13 May 2008 at 01:46 AM
Manchester United Credit Card i bet you are pretty much up set that cristiano ronaldo wasn't even picked to the all star team of euro 2008 xD
Posted by: haha | 07 August 2008 at 02:10 AM