Dear John,

I did not comment the performance of English teams in CL as statistics speak for itself. I commented only ManU. But what is the reason for a rapid progress of English football in ECL in recent years? In my opinion the crucial factor in this respect is the import of world-class coaches to Premier League who know how to play against European teams. Look at the recent performance of English teams in Europe and who led these teams. Liverpool-Benitez, Chelsea-Mourinio, Arsenal-Wenger. All of them have a great deal of experience and success in European football. This experience is a huge advantage while playing in Champions League (but not always in England, as the work of Benitez proves). Ferguson lacks this experience and his highly physical football usually disappoints at the final stages of CL.

As far as the winter break is concerned, it is again a Ferguson-like excuse (he blames everything but his team when he loses). Benitez reached CL final twice in the last three seasons and Liverpool did not have the winter break too.

And finally, yes Kaka is joining Zaglebie Lubin. He always wanted to play for this club and now his dreams come true. His love to ZL is so strong that the relegation and the quality of Polish football do not bother him.

Pawel , Dynow, Poland

I have the distinct impression that Martin Samuel is setting up Man United & Ronaldo. Building them up ahead of the event, only to pull the cheap journalistic trick of taking them down if they fail. Maybe they won't.

Mike M., boston,

Ronaldo always looks good against weak teams.
The trouble is that he does not perform against strong teams.Winners of the Ballon d'Or are great against strong teams.
Outside the top four in the premiereship,the quality declines rapidly.And it is there that he scores his goals.In the champions league he does well in the early stages against the teams that don't have a hope anyway,but fizzles out against the stronger teams.
For the Portugal national team,it is the same.When Portugal plays Italy,he is invisible,as Italians know how to defend.When Portugal playsLuxembourg,he looks fantastic .
Rooney is much more dangerous regardless of the opposition and much more consistent,just Drogba at Chelsea.
I am sure the Italian defenders worry much more about Rooney than about Ronaldo.

C.Francis, Manchester, England

Pawel, you are wrong.

Among other things, you failed to realise that Continental European teams have it easier than English teams in the UEFA Champions League due to their time-off during the winter break.

English teams have to train for and play grueling EPL matches the week-end before Xmas, on Boxing Day & New Year's Day.

ManU were a physically depleted side when they played AC Milan last year. That's an important fact you've conveniently left out.

Fortunately, English teams have made a good effort to learn from past experiences and to improve. Hence, 4 English teams in the last 8 in the UCL this year.

Where are the likes of AC Milan, Real Madrid, Juventus & Bayern this year ?

If football played by English teams does not work in Europe, why was an English team in the last 3 UCL finals ?

Consistency of performance counts a great deal.

Will Kaka be joining 'Zaglebie Lubin' in relegation in the Polish League for the corruption scandal ?

John, New York,

As a Liverpool fan it is hard for me to say this, there should be no argument, from what I have seen this year this boy has been different class. He will or should be a double winner, European and World no argument.

Mark, Anglesey,

Pedro,
First of all, I didn't know that the Iberian Union had come back in to effect. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Secondly, Luis Figo was voted European Player of the Year back in 2000 so I don't think there is any particular Portuguese bias.

Derek, Limerick, Ireland

It is Christiano Ronaldo's ability that makes me watch the premier league. he is exciting, technically the best player I have ever seen and only 23! Pele, Eusebio, Maradona, fantastic players. Ronaldo, super-fantastic there is a difference.

M.Monteiro, aberdeen, uk

I think it is fair to say that, although he has been amazing this season both domestically and in Europe, he needs to be outstanding in the big games, i.e. Champions League semi-finals and final, games in the later stages of the FA Cup, etc. Last year he did disappear in Milan but he is getting better with age, therefore surely it is only a matter of time before he steps up and shows the world he can do it in the REALLY big games. Best was fantastic in the European Cup final of '68 and to be really classed in the same league as him, Ronaldo also needs to put on a similar performance and lead his team to the greatest prize in European football. Until then, the question mark about his greatness will forever hang over his head. As you say Martin, it is that final step of the Grand Slam title in tennis, the major in golf, that really elevates the great to the legendary, and rightly so in my opinion.

Dean Clay, North Shields, Newcastle upon Tyne

Rose tinted specs aside, Besty didn't always perform week in week out, but he did tend to turn it on when the stakes were higher or he felt something to prove. Lets hope Ronaldo sees the Best comparisons as a positive challenge and makes men of a certain age as happy with the present as their memories of the past.

jonners, weybridge,

Martin Samuel is wrong assuming that ManU 'deserves' to win Champions League because of their dominant status in premierleague. Under Ferguson they have dominated English football for many years yet they have always struggled to transfer this success into Europe (ok, one exception in 1999, not impressive for Ferguson who has managed the club for more than 20 years). Remember last season? They were smashed by Milan veeery easily. This season will not be different. Why? Because ‘physical’ and, in my opinion, primitive style of ManU, which is effective in England where football style is based on ‘long balls’ and ‘run quickly as you can to catch up with the ball’, is ineffective while playing against highly technical teams from Italy or Spain with firm defensive formations. I find it strange that so many people, including Samuel, do not understand that the football produced by ManU just does not work in Europe. And even Ronaldo, in fact the best player in the World, is not enough to save ManU from another ‘undeserved’ defeat in Champions League.

Pawel , Dynow, Poland

Last year Ronaldo was already the best player in the world. No one could match him during the last 2 years. The reason why his ability is not recognized is based on two factors: (i) his Portuguese. People refrain from accepting that a Portuguese could be the best which is nonsense as currently we have the best player and manager worldwide and we, a country of less than 10 millions, reached the final of Euro cup and the semi-finals of the World cup. It is easier to award a Brazilian or an Argentinean rather than someone from a small country; (ii) Ronaldo personality. He admits he wants to be the best and he works for that whereas Kaka and Messi were afraid to say so. Actually they only could say that Ronaldo was the best player and they were not lying.

Pedro, Madrid, Spain