Roma midfielder David Pizarro has lashed out at Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, labelling the winger a "big head".
Pizarro accused Ronaldo of showing arrogance and a lack of respect towards his opponents in United's 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win in the Eternal City on Tuesday night.
Ronaldo, who scored the opener with a stunning header and almost made it 3-0 when he hit the bar, was booed by the home crowd for teasing opposing defenders with his tricks on the pitch.
"Despite the fact that he is a great champion, he is very arrogant," said Pizarro. "He does certain spiteful things on the pitch.
"This is the ugliest thing for a player.
"Some of his little tricks in the middle of the pitch were unnecessary and he needs to show some respect to his opposition. In the return leg, I will have something to say to him."
Portugal star Ronaldo defended his actions after helping his team put one foot in the semi-finals.
"It's nothing against my rivals," said the 23-year-old. "Those plays are just part of my way of interpreting football.
"I have always done them, even three or four years ago when I was younger.
"But there are plays that I do for the good of the team and never to ridicule my opponents.
"I tried to do the best for Manchester United and not to make a show.
"It's just a part of who I am."
Ronaldo believes Roma have improved since last year - when United eliminated the Giallorossi with a humiliating 7-1 defeat at Old Trafford at the same stage of the competition - but insists United have also also grown stronger in the last 12 months.
"I don't think we can talk about a Roma weakness but rather about the strength of Manchester United," he said.
"Last season we didn't know Roma but this time, we have been perfect in defence."
Despite his team having taken a giant step towards the last four, Ronaldo prefers to remain cautious.
"It would be bad to think we have done the job," he warned. "We have next week's game and although a win away from home gives us confidence, we still have to seal qualification."
while my automatic reaction is to say this is all sour grapes, some of this really comes down to them not being familiar with the players style. If they saw him do it week in and week out, they'd know that he has a certain way of going about doing things that is unique and is more stylistic than a pisstake.
As far as "interpretation" goes, Ronaldo is sounding more like Cantona on a daily basis .
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There is a reason I bleed red. United until I die.
"It would be bad to think we have done the job," he warned. "We have next week's game and although a win away from home gives us confidence, we still have to seal qualification."
and also the interview Ferguson had with iTV last night were really telling. The first things out of their mouths was, this isn't over, we have one more to go. That's just maturity, and certain cold ruthlesness to it. I really like how they are handling themselves.
I think our 68 victory and to a lesser extent 99 really basically put us in a weird position where we said..."well we've won it, we've reached the pinnacle of football, that's it." Having a mindset that says, that focuses on the next game constantly and not on your last victory is a really healthy way of going about it. it takes a lot of maturity to truly believe that
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There is a reason I bleed red. United until I die.
Now, this asshole named Pizarro really pissed me off. What, now you can't do tricks on the pitch? You have got to be kidding me. Then, what is the beauty of football without fireworks? From what he said, we have to play like Chelsea and "show some respect towards the opponent"... yeah, play like crap, score a goal and defend all day long. Hate this kind of smart-ass individuals.
Pizarro believes Ronaldo lacks respect towards opponents. What about showing him some respect in the first place?
The diminutive (and thoroughly mediocre) midfielder believes Ronaldo is arrogant though hardly supported this theory with any kind of evidence.
'There is no doubt that he has quality, but it is also true that he has a big head,' Pizarro told the Italian press.
'Some of his little tricks in the middle of the pitch were unnecessary and he needs to show some respect to his opposition.'
Oh really? I did not understand this respect thingy when Arsenal mentioned it in relation to Nani's dribbling.
So, dribbling is forbidden now? Some of the tricks were unnecessary? Well, some of Roma's passes were unncessary. Is that of a lack of respect shown towards the opponent?
Of course the issue is more serious than this. As in the case of Nani, Ronaldo was also kicked off the park for 70 minutes. Roma did not restrain from any kind of action to stop him and they had the leniency of the Belgian referee to aid them in this not so honourable quest.
There was an attack when Ronaldo was kicked three times in 10 seconds but the referee failed to blow his whistle. I'd ask every Roma player: isn't it a lack of respect if they cynically try to destroy a player who has ten times the gifts they can dream of?
Of course I know the argument - that it does show respect actually. Well, fat lot of good that does if Ronaldo has to be carried off on a stretcher because of Roma's tactics to stop him. What should he do? Hit back? No.
When the game was already won, Ronaldo demonstrated his technique, his array of skills and yes, perhaps he did it because he wanted to humiliate those players who kicked him off the park. Why is it so immoral? Surely using your skills to punish players who simply resorted to cynical fouls to stop him should be lauded?
It was exactly the same case with Nani. Arsenal players kicked him left, right and centre and then claimed moral high ground when he dared to do some tricks to show them he's not intimidated. Cheeky, yes. Big-headed and arrogant, no.
And of course Pizarro's misguided mission of machismo does not accept that there are skilful players who refuse to play as he wants them to play. Demonstrating his lack of brains, he made the following promise.
'You can bet that we will have something to say about it in the return leg.'
Well, we are terrified really. After all, you set Old Trafford alight the last time you played a quarter-final second leg here, didn't you?
I agree with that quote, but a link would be great.
To be honest, I don't care what Pizarro thinks of Ronaldo. Ronaldo does this every week in every game he plays in. He has his tricks and that's what makes him a good player. He is there to entertain as well as show that he can make his team win. If he didn't do that then he wouldn't be where he is at this moment. He wouldn't have 38 goals throughout all competitions and lead scorer for the Premier League. He has matured over the years. You can see it.
Pizarro is just a sore loser. His yellow card for a tackle on Ronaldo was shameful at the 45' mark. The ball was like a yard away from him and he just clips and shoves Ronaldo. Sounds like a guy who got embarrassed. Ronaldo was vintage Ronaldo yesterday. What the heck is Pizarro talking about?
I hope Pizarro has something to say to Ronaldo in the return leg cuz Ronaldo will gladly reply with 2 more goals.
Pizarro slams 'big head' Ronaldo
Pizarro slams 'big head' Ronaldo -
04-02-2008, 02:32 PM
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