Ferguson: Ronaldo Must Accept Treatment

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded that Portuguese International Cristiano Ronaldo must learn to live and deal with the treatment that the winger is receiving on the pitch this season.

Since his comeback from injury in the Premier League this season, Balon d’Or winner has found the form of his last campaign hard to come by, with the former Sporting Lisbon player showing his frustration in a series of ill-disciplined incidents in recent weeks.

The latest incident saw the Red Devils talisman square up to Emanuel Pogatetz at Old Trafford in their Premiership encounter against Middlesbrough last Monday. This follows Ronaldo kicking out petulantly at Celtic player Scott Brown in the Champions League along with Tottenham Hotspur’s Michael Dawson and Andy Wilkinson of Stoke City.

This sentiment has been echoed by Ferguson, but the United boss has also claimed that this sort of treatment comes with the territory and that Ronaldo must learn to accept and deal with the close attention he receives.

“Of course I can understand Cristiano's frustration," said Ferguson.

“Enough has been said about it already but I can understand it.

“He has produced little moments of displeasure at the treatment he is getting.

“They are trivial things, but as he has said himself, because it is Ronaldo it is magnified.

“That is the penalty for being a great player. He has to understand that.”