Ryan Giggs reckons that Cristiano Ronaldo was a better player in teh 2006/07 season than last year!
Cristiano scored 42 goals in all competitions last year, on the way to winning the Premier League, Champions League and numerous individual awards - not least the Ballon D'or!
But Giggsy insists that Ronaldo was better the year before - when United romped home to just the Premier League title.
"In the 2006-07 season I thought Ronaldo was unbelievable. Last season I didn't think he was as good. He did turn himself into an even greater goal scorer, but the previous season his overall play was incredible."
"Ronaldo is dedicated to every part of his lifestyle and so are the people he has around him. He has his diet and the way he looks after himself. He leads his life for football so he has got to be like that."
The FA have decided not to launch any disciplinary action against Cristiano Ronaldo after the Manchester United star appeared to kick out at Tottenham's Michael Dawson in Saturday's game between the two sides.
Referee Mike Dean, who did not take any action at the time, has looked at the incident but has not deemed it serious.
A Football Association spokesman said: "We contacted the referee, who confirmed he didn't see the incident at the time and, having reviewed footage, he has also confirmed he would not have sent the player off for violent conduct had he seen it.
"On that basis, no further action will be taken."
United had feared that Ronaldo would face a ban for violent conduct, which would have been his second suspension in less than a month.
Meanwhile, veteran boss Sir Alex Ferguson is still waiting to hear from UEFA who are deciding whether Wayne Rooney deliberately stamped on Aalborg's Kasper Risgard during last week's Champions League clash.
Video evidence does not show if there was any intent from the United striker, but UEFA could still hand him anything up to a three-match ban if they deem the challenge to be dangerous or violent.
Cristiano Ronaldo was able to return to training on Tuesday morning and could be involved in Manchester United's Champions League clash with Aalborg at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
The Portugal international had to be substituted after picking up a hip injury in Saturday's victory against Sunderland and had been thought to be a major doubt for the final Group E clash against the Danish side.
However, Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra and Daniel Welbeck did not take part in the training session, increasing speculation that John O'Shea, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury, could return to the starting line-up.
Meanwhile, veteran defender Gary Neville has admitted that his continuing injury problems are starting to frustrate him.
The 33-year-old has struggled to regain full fitness since injuring ankle ligaments against Bolton Wanderers in March 2007.
He made only one substitute appearance in the whole of the 2007-08 campaign and, despite returning to the first team this season, has not made a Premier League start for over a month.
He told United's official website: "To be honest, I've not been able to stay fit enough, or produce consistently good enough performances, to stay in the team, simple as that.
"You've got to be realistic and honest with yourself. The first thing you've got to do is stay fit.
"If you do that over a long period of time, you get the opportunity to get your level of performance to something that's acceptable for this club."
Manchester United defender Patrice Evra fears that Cristiano Ronaldo will be targeted by opponents should he claim the Ballon d'Or next month.
Evra told the press: "Ronny expects to win the Golden Ball but I have told him that when people see him in the pictures with the golden ball he will have a lot of enemies!
"This is the life, when you are the best player everybody tries to beat you.
"He received a lot of bad tackles against Villarreal and the fans tried to upset and goad him as well. It is normal. He has to be ready for that."
The Portugal international finished top of the magazine’s annual countdown of the top 100 footballers on the planet, beating the likes of Barcelona`s Lionel Messi and previous winner Kaka of AC Milan to the coveted No.1 spot. See www.fourfourtwo.com for the full top 10.
“Ultimately Ronaldo’s personal achievements, coupled with his team’s success, secured him the No.1 spot,” said FourFourTwo editor-in-chief Hugh Sleight.
Ronaldo scored an amazing 31 goals in 31 starts as United retained the title last season, including successive ‘Goal of the Month’ winners against Portsmouth and Aston Villa.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester winger, has been named FifPro World Footballer of the Year.
The Portugal international, who is also the favourite to be named European and Fifa World Player of the Year, has been chosen for the award by thousands of professional footballers across more than 40 associations.
Ronaldo was continually linked with a move to Real Madrid over the summer, but now insists he is happy at Old Trafford.
"I insist that I am a Manchester United player and now I think that next year I will continue here," Ronaldo said. The player also said that Sir Alex Ferguson played a huge part in his decision to commit his future to Old Trafford.
"He has been a key person. I respect him a lot, because it was him who signed me and he has played a very important part in all that I have won," Ronaldo said.
"In Lisbon I reached an agreement with him and it was decided that the best thing for all was to continue.
"He listened to my arguments and I listened to his. Now I understand that it was the correct decision. I am with Manchester United body and soul."
Ronaldo was one of five Premier League players who have been selected in the team of the year. The Portugal winger joins Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres (both Liverpool), John Terry (Chelsea) and Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) in the team.
Like United, Liverpool provide two members of the team, with Gerrard and Torres, who is one of five Spanish players in the team. Real Madrid also have two players in the team in Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos, however, Barcelona boast three players with Carles Puyol, Xavi and Lionel Messi all selected in the side.
Kaka, the Brazil midfielder, is the only player included from an Italian team.
FifPro team: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) John Terry (Chelsea) Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) Carles Puyol (Barcelona) Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) Kaka (AC Milan), Xavi (Barcelona) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Fernando Torres (Liverpool) Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Earlier this week, Manchester United gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson warned Cristiano Ronaldo that he`d struggle to equal the ridiculous goal tally he amassed last season, saying: "He has five goals now and he got 42 last season. I would expect him to get between 25 and 42 this year."
Now, though, the midfielder-cum-striker insists that, despite his stint at Euro 2008 and subsequent ankle injury - not to mention the months of controversy surrounding the `move that never was` to Real Madrid - he can smash his own record.
"I know it’s very difficult to score 42 goals again," he admitted, "but I believe in myself and in my colleagues.
"I’m training the same and I hope to do the same or better."
However, managers and players in the Premier League and around Europe will be spending a lot more time dissecting the Portuguese superstar`s game this term and the 23-year-old no longer has an element of surprise.
Last time out, it was unclear as to whether Fergie was deploying him as a winger or a striker. By the time anyone had figured it out, Ronaldo was well on the way to his goal bonanza.
Thus, a repeat is a bold claim, to say the least. Still, who`s going to rule it out at this point?
The Manchester United star was honoured by his fellow professionals as he was named the leading player of 2007/08 by members of the world players` union.
Portugal international Ronaldo was always going to be a leading contender for the honour after he scored 42 goals to help the Red Devils claim the Premier League and UEFA Champions League crowns.
And Ferguson has warned Premier League and European defences that the 23-year-old will get even better with age.
Experience The Scot told Sky Sports News: "For a winger to score 42 goals, that itself deserves recognition. His performances apart from that were exciting. He`s a player who always wants to take the ball and always plays with such great courage.
"Where he will improve is his authority, his timing. Experience gives you better timing, better authority and better decision making and handling all situations, that`s what maturity does.
"In the case of Cristiano, at 23, we expect that to progress the right way.
"When you look at the quality of the players involved it is a measure of the success of the team last season. It was a marvellous year for us and, quite rightly, we`ve been recognised in a big way."
Ronaldo, who was targeted by Real Madrid over the summer before electing to remain at Old Trafford, was quick to repay the compliment in his praise for Ferguson.
Titles He said: "The boss is very important for me. I`m at the club because of him, he signed me when I was 18 years old.
"He helped me a lot. He respects the players, he knows how to speak with the players and I think this is very important. 99 per cent of the players have a great relationship with him.
"He`s a great man, a great manager, and it is great to be part of Manchester United with him. The titles speak for the themselves, he has won everything for the club."
Ronaldo was joined in the FifPro World XI of 2007/08 by team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who was a rock at the heart of United`s defence during their Double triumph, with Ferguson eager to salute the England international.
He added: "He`s never lost that technical advantage he has over other defenders. The ability and balance to take the ball out of defence has always been there.
"What we`re seeing with Rio now is a maturity in terms of helping other people round about him and being a leader in that respect."
