Ronaldo is a one trick pony, if you consider winning matches week after week after week as a trick.

phil, lancaster,

Ronaldo has unique skill. It is the responsibility of opponents to counter fairly this skill, not to complain about their apparent lack of how to deal with him. It is the envy culture, and the desire to reduce all players to a similar level when there would be no point in watching. people want to pay their cash to see something special, and Ronaldo is just that. What sort of 'revenge' are AS Roma planning I wonder? The statement smacks of the 'family' approach.

John Howells, Belgrade, Serbia

I can't believe footballers complaining about players with skill expressing themselves, yeah ronaldo is a little arrogant and cocky but that's just his football persona shining through. Skilful players should be allowed to play there natural game it's what the fans want!!!!!! Get real Pizarro your complaints are inconceivable at best.

Ruiadhri Belgrave Harrow

ruiadhri, london, England

Reminds me a little of Wengers comments about Nani's "showboating" against Arsenal. That showboating was actually a couple of keep-me-ups, controlling an airborne ball facing the united goal, while united were hanging onto the ball in midfield. Wenger said it was basically fair game to give him a kick, then a matter of weeks later came the unfortunate tackle on por old Eduardo.

Nothing justifies fouling a player. Nothing.

Players with flare & skill will always annoy those who don't have it, and they will always entertain those who pay a lot of hard-earned money to go and see them. The likes of Best, Maradonna, Cruyff, Henri, Ronaldo, Torres etc...

And I think I'd have an arrogant face on after scoring in front of a crowd who'd been constantly booing me and against a team who'd tried to squeeze me out all game.

That, Mr Pizarro, is how to get your revenge, by playing better and winning.

Mark, Sheffield,

Robert Elms you are spot on. Ronaldo is just a great deal more skillful than most opponents he faces and that is no crime.

Chris, Bridgend, Wales

Richardson, Skien,
"Zinedine Zidane. He was and is a great personality... Ronaldo is it not."

The great personality that is Zinedine Zidane that headbutted someone in the world cup final. A role model to us all Richardson

John, Sheffield,

now we know why the fans in italy are just thugs when you have players like this fool pizarro claiming to teach opponents respect by having somethink to say when they meet again just because they lost to a much better team.we wait with abated breath loser.

thomas beggs, dublin, ireland

7-1 was the score....

Davide, London,

Zidane? A cool head for sure. Just ask Materazzi.

Pedro, Lisbon, Portugal

Why on earth should a player show any respect for his opponents? His job is to beat them by a big a margin as poosible. If they are not good enough to stop him that is their problem.

Man U didn't exactly show respect for Roma when they won 7-2 last year.


In most American sports it is considered bad form to pile up the score unnecessarily as this is 'disrespectful' to the opponents. I have never understood ehy.

You job is to beat you opponents not to respect them.

Roger Tilbury, Worthing,

Arrogance = exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner.

The pure act of being skilful is not arrogance. Anyway, how can Ronaldo exaggerate his own worth or importance when he is one of if not THE best player in the world?

Antagonise = cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations

So Ronaldo has caused annoyance in the Roma Players. Isn't that what you are supposed to do in football? If the other players are not annoyed and are content, they must be winning.

So Mr Pizarro, you are antagonising me.

It annoys ME that professionals get upset that someone else can do their job better than them. A great example is the treatment Kerlon gets in Brazil. Now he IS a one trick pony. (look it up on youtube - Kerlon/seal dribble)

Glyn, telford, shropshire

let me say first off.. I am NOT a Man U fan . But..I amazed at the Roma players comments.
Ronaldos header was a bloody brave goal..Shearer at his best !! The kid deserves more respect I think

Stev Timms, edinburgh, scotland

If Ronaldo being skillful and fantastic at what he does is arrogant, then I guess he is arrogant. Jealousy on Pizarro's part here I think. A great game, with allround skill from most players on the pitch, why does Pizarro need to make comments such as these?

James, Melbourne, Australia

A football player can be showman entertainig the public, but he should do it without humiliating the opponents... there is more examples, but one stands out: Zinedine Zidane. He was and is a great personality... Ronaldo is it not.

Richardson, Skien,

It doesnt seem like only the English press is showering Ronaldo with praise, if u take a look around italian and spanish media, the plaudits has been non stop!

Dickson, Malaysia,

I honestly dont know what was more undignafied for roma was it the 7to1 loss at old trafford or this ridiculos public condemnation of football at its best. I for one would embarased to be a roma fan today not for the loss for they played well but for their sore looser conduct.

albert martins, stoneham, ma usa

Why does Ronaldo do what he does with the ball ? The same reason that David Beckham had a go from from the halfway line, Wayne Rooney stood with two feet on the ball in his first season, Ronnie O'Sullivan played a game with his left and right hand, Mohammed Ali danced and talked around the ring. They do it because they have something many others don't and deep down we all want to be entertained. The price is often the label of arrogance or, to use its true meaning, an appearance of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner - unfortunately,however, these are the qualities that define an elite sportsman.

James, Sydney, NSW

Pizarro should get off the field if he can't take the pressure!

vmelo, Somerville, MA, USA

I am a Utd fan, but am not a big fan of showboating or diving and brilliant as Ronaldo is, he does a bit of both. For Pizarro to come out in the press like this is somewhat alarming - wonder if UEFA might take some action. The referee will certainly have his eye on Pizarro from the word go.

Anyway, great performance from United and good to see Ronaldo maturing into (arguably) the world's best player at the moment. MUFC for the Double!

M. O'Leary, Singapore,

"one trick pony"? Do me a favour and get some original insults if you're going to bother trying to criticise on of the best attacking players on the planet. This was fair comment when he was an 18 year old with no track record - surely not now! Ronaldo would get in any football team in the world.

David Rowe, Sydney, NSW

Interesting how good the English press backs up "their" players and influence the rest of the world.
Cheers

Sandro, Porto,

One Trick Pony?

Are you kidding me F Smith? He has more tricks than Paul Daniels and David Copperfield on the same day. No doubt the Roma players will try to wind him up and no doubt they will try to kick lumps out of him.

He will keep his head and score again at Old Trafford - Final aggreagte score will be 4-1 to United

Olly G, Melbourne,

did anyone ask Picasso to paint a lirrle more prosaically or tell James Joyce to just get on with the story

Mike, Canberra, Australia

....yeah it's one trick that always works!!!....

Granit, Calgary, Canada

There's no doubt that Roma will do everything they can to wind up
Man. U's. players (not just Ronaldo), hoping to get someone sent off. It will need a good strong referee on the night to keep control.

alan kay, milano, italy

It is always polemic with Ronaldo.
He can run with the ball and skin opponents; since when has being really good at football constituted disrespect? Should he tone down his brilliance to ease the shame of the people he beats? Of course not.
Players who moan about disrespect are munching on some very sour grapes and are having a very public sulk.

Robert Elms, Somerset, UK

Good.

Someone needs to teach this one trick pony a lesson.

f.Smith, London,