Ronaldo sent on Christmas break

Stuart Mathieson

December 16, 2004

TIRED: Cristiano Ronaldo

CRISTIANO Ronaldo has been sent home for a Christmas break by Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Manchester United boss has given the 19-year-old a sunshine holiday, and the winger has jetted home to enjoy a breather with his family in Madeira.

Fergie has been biding his time and waiting for the right opportunity to rest the teenager following a punishing summer schedule.

His debut campaign in England - following his move to the Reds from Sporting Lisbon in August 2003 - was followed by a demanding international programme.

After his success with United in last season's FA Cup final, he was almost immediately on duty with Portugal in their European Championship training camp.

Inspired

Ronaldo then inspired the Euro 2004 hosts to the final of the competition and outshone Luis Figo.

He was playing from June 12 right through the last whistle in the final defeat to Greece in Lisbon on July 4.

Fergie had planned a full month of vacation for all his Euro 2004 players immediately after the tournament, but Ronaldo was then surprisingly called up for Portugal's Olympic squad for Athens.

Much to Fergie's annoyance, he had to let the 19-year-old go to Greece - and he was not back at Old Trafford and ready for action until late August.

Since then he has appeared in 21 of United's 26 matches.

Last Christmas, the Reds manager sent Ronaldo home for 18 days, but he has already said he might just get a 10-day breather this time.

That would mean he could return to action against Aston Villa in the Midlands on December 28, or at Middlesbrough on New Years' Day.

Should Ronaldo be give a Christmas break? Have your say.

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Derrick, Bournemouth (16/12/2004 at 10:59)

Hopefully he was given videos of his performances as a Christmas present to watch in Madeira.

Mary, Sale (16/12/2004 at 11:20)

Yes and now Hienze I am surprised he does not give all the first team a break over Christmas and play the carling cup suad.
Alex is no loger fit to manage. These people are paid to play football they get more rest than most others and are treated like they are special.

proudtobeblue, Stockport (16/12/2004 at 11:20)

We've been telling you for months he's the most overrated pile of rubbish in the prem after Rooney!!

Shame it's taken Ferguson almost a year to realise it!!!

andy, manchester (16/12/2004 at 11:39)

he can practice his diving in the family pool

Frank, Old Trafford (16/12/2004 at 12:03)

The fact that we have our blue friends on here ranting away just proves how good he is!

Anthony Taylor, manchester (16/12/2004 at 12:15)

no he gets paid 2 play

Alias Smith, over the moon (16/12/2004 at 12:15)

proudtobeblue, it's says something about the quality of the bottom 16 Premiership sides (including City) if we can be above them with such a bunch of over-rated rubbish for a team!

Mary, Sale (16/12/2004 at 12:25)

We all know bitters and gooners come from the bottom end of the pile when it comes to brain power,but why come on here just to prove to one and all how little and stupid you all are.
Red Power is what drives football,everybody all over the world knows who United are nobody knows who the sad blues are.

D, Cairo (16/12/2004 at 12:31)

Oh c'mon give the boy a break. You play the amount of games he has at his age and then not suffer a dip in form. Even Rooney wasn't sent on the Turkey trip and didn't play in the Olympics. There is a term called burn out and if a player needs some r'n'r which in turn will have a positive effect on his form later on so let him go on holiday. Same thing for Heinze...remember last season Ronaldo came back from holiday and was brilliant.

Gibbon, At work (16/12/2004 at 12:32)

Last year he came back a much better player. Hopefully the same will happen again.

thomas m from poland, polish reds (16/12/2004 at 13:12)

well Ronnie is just 19 years old and he is a rugaler since his arrival!!! he has to see his family!!! Thats very important.
Do you remember THE GOERGE BEST TRAGEDY??? He just played and played and has not seen his parents for months and finally met the wrong friends and started his heavy drinking.... A message
to BLUES fans: WE WI`LL DOMINATE THE PREMIERSHIP FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS!!!!!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Adolf Mbaine, Kampala (16/12/2004 at 13:38)

This young man has served us well, he went through a punishing schedule in the summer and its implications had become evident on his game. The rest is well deserved and to me he needs even three weeks.

I am sure he will come back rejuvinated and help us to win something big when the season ends.

Sir Alex should play either Simth or Fletcher on the right. I am sure the results will continue to be good.

violet, manchester (16/12/2004 at 14:05)

Yes he should have a break, he's a young gorgeous lookin bloke who deserves to spend time with his family. plus hed be much warmer!

Tony Whelan, London (16/12/2004 at 14:13)

Why NOT give him a much longer period to rest then. If his perfomances were as a result of fatigue then definately a much longer break will do him a world of good. I still feel Fergie was forced into this by the Senior Man U players though. He just kills a good attacking move. Too many step-overs etc. I could see Gary Neville and Smith "barking" at him for wasting chances. Yes, Rooney hasn't really been doing well but at least he passes the ball and his range of passing the ball is improving all the time. Only he is being played all over the park.

What are the chances of playing a little one-two with Ronaldo hey?
I can only remember once when he did with Gary Neville on the right and Gary Neville scored! But Gary had to demand the ball back from him. He is like Kanu used to be at Arsenal. A luxury! Contributes nothing to the team.

I agree he will get better. I hope he will get better!
Watch us fly without him now.........

NONAMEBOY, JUSTICE (16/12/2004 at 14:19)

A couple of games and you all will beg for him to come back.
Still he does need a break.
For you all (blues): why don't you stick to your own league and mess around instead with west brow. fans? they are more at your level

dan, manchester (16/12/2004 at 14:30)

Fergie has finally come to his senses and given the boy a break! He's been running on empty for weeks now and I'm disappionted that Fergie didn't see this sooner. I only hope that he gets enough rest because once his break(which is WAY too short) is over, there is no way Fergie's gonna let him go for another one till the season is over.

Kine, Norway (16/12/2004 at 15:11)

Yes I think that Cristiano Ronaldo needs av break now.. he's been very tired lately! I look forward to see him after the holiday! He's the best player ever!! And he will be even better after christmas!

Mark, Manchester (16/12/2004 at 17:31)

At the start of the season when most of the team were dismal Ronaldo was often the best player. It's not only his team mates, he seems frustrated with himself at times. It's obvious he has talent and the rest will do him good.
"Proudtobeblue" - note that this is the same Ronaldo who according to a City season ticket holder I know, ripped city apart in the 1st half of the COMS derby & is a great player! Surprise to see you're from Stockport. Not proud enough to put your real name then?

Chip Barbre, Jackson, MO USA (16/12/2004 at 19:05)

The boy's break is long overdue. I suppose Utd.'s place in the league dictated his inclusion more than Sir Alex had promised, but it's hard to fault that. However, Ronaldo's play has seemed very selfish so far this term, playing more with the mentality of a striker than a winger. He needs to think more about service to the strikers than taking the shot himself. Hopefully the rest will let him refuel and help his approach.

Rene, The Netherlands (16/12/2004 at 19:32)

I'am surprised that so many people don't see the quality of Cristiano Ronaldo. Some people find him rubbish. I don't understead this. He is very young so he must been protected. A few days rest in Madeira makes him stronger.
So people in England and especially in Manchester be proud to see him playing.
Okey he might be selfish. But he has the courage to do this with his 19 years. In the future he will be a great player, give him time. Ever heard about the Wiel Coerver technique, he does demonstrate it .
I am looking forward to see him play at the end of the year.
Be carefull with talented players.
Greetings Rene.

seamus, calgary ex stretford (16/12/2004 at 20:07)

Enjoy your rest young man, you need it. Come back having learned that it's better to give than receive sometimes.

xo, malaysia (16/12/2004 at 20:23)

to be honest...ronaldo must learn to be less selfish and be more team player!! apart from that the boy doing fine...remember he just 19 and has lots more to learn!! Beckham is nobody when he's 19!!!! SAF doing good to rest ronaldo and hope get better when he come back...we will miss him...

paul, sale (16/12/2004 at 21:10)

Presumably, this means he misses Palace, Bolton and Villa - not bad. We should have enough to beat Palace with 8 men. Bolton wouldn't be his sort of game anyway - lots of high balls to contest from set pieces, when frankly, we would probably nees JOS more! And Villa, who you would expect to come out and play and (in theory) we might not need to open a packed defence. Never a good time to be without yoru good players, but he definately needs a rest. But I hope he's back for the Boro game!!

m. percy, ontario canada ex stretford (16/12/2004 at 21:43)

way to go S A f . the kid needs a rest . he will be better player for it.

patrick, vancouver,canada (17/12/2004 at 03:19)

SAF knows what he is doing to preserve and get the best out of the youngster long-term. he's shown it in the past and I expect he will continue to do so in the future. I also, expect that we will see players like rooney also be given a break soon.

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