He may have finished as the UEFA Champions League top scorer and struck the 42nd goal of an astounding season to help Manchester United FC triumph in the final in Moscow, but Cristiano Ronaldo is keen to share the credit for his memorable campaign.
'Contrasting fortunes'The Portuguese international headed United into a 26th-minute lead at the Luzniki Stadium only for Frank Lampard to bring Chelsea FC level seconds before the half-time whistle. With neither side able to find a winner in the second period or in extra time, it was down to a penalty shoot-out and Ronaldo presented Chelsea with the initiative when he failed to bear Petr Čech with United's third spot-kick of the regulation five. The Portuguese international, who also missed in the semi-final first leg at FC Barcelona, was spared when John Terry sent Chelsea's fifth kick wide, and three successful conversions later Nicolas Anelka's failure ensured the trophy would be going to Manchester for a third time.
'Dramatic and fantastic'"The Champions League is always dramatic and the game today was fantastic," he said. "Both teams played very well; we played better in the first half, created more chances than Chelsea and scored a very good goal. We had the opportunity to kill the game [through] Carlos Tévez but that was saved and in the second half Chelsea played better and had a few opprtunities. Then the penalties – it's like a lottery." Asked if he felt relief when Terry missed, he replied: "A little bit, yes."
DisbeliefWhen Anelka was denied by Edwin van der Sar, Ronaldo sank to his knees in the centre circle in celebration. "I was that stressed – the feeling was so great and to be honest I didn't believe we'd won the Champions League," he explained. "I feel very proud. The lads have worked very well and it's a good night for us. They believed all the time and they deserve to win the Champions League. This is everything for me, I have looked forward to winning this competition and it's my first Champions League."
'Great feeling'Ronaldo's goal in Moscow was his eighth in the competition this season, two more than any other player, and took his season tally to 42, a clear source of satisfaction – yet he is already looking ahead to UEFA EURO 2008™. "I'm very proud, everything has come right for me," he said. "My team-mates have helped me a lot; we've won the Premier League and the Champions League, so everything is good . It's been a magnificent season and it's a great feeling; when you pick up the trophy it's amazing. We're going to enjoy tonight; we'll have a party and then I'll start to think about EURO. It's a fantastic year with my club, and now I want to win that as well."
2007/08 UEFA Champions League top scorers
Player
Club
Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United FC
8
Lionel Messi
FC Barcelona
6
Didier Drogba
Chelsea FC
6
Steven Gerrard
Liverpool FC
6
Fernando Torres
Liverpool FC
6
Ryan Babel
Liverpool FC
5
Dirk Kuyt
Liverpool FC
5
Raúl González
Real Madrid CF
5
'Contrasting fortunes'The Portuguese international headed United into a 26th-minute lead at the Luzniki Stadium only for Frank Lampard to bring Chelsea FC level seconds before the half-time whistle. With neither side able to find a winner in the second period or in extra time, it was down to a penalty shoot-out and Ronaldo presented Chelsea with the initiative when he failed to bear Petr Čech with United's third spot-kick of the regulation five. The Portuguese international, who also missed in the semi-final first leg at FC Barcelona, was spared when John Terry sent Chelsea's fifth kick wide, and three successful conversions later Nicolas Anelka's failure ensured the trophy would be going to Manchester for a third time.
'Dramatic and fantastic'"The Champions League is always dramatic and the game today was fantastic," he said. "Both teams played very well; we played better in the first half, created more chances than Chelsea and scored a very good goal. We had the opportunity to kill the game [through] Carlos Tévez but that was saved and in the second half Chelsea played better and had a few opprtunities. Then the penalties – it's like a lottery." Asked if he felt relief when Terry missed, he replied: "A little bit, yes."
DisbeliefWhen Anelka was denied by Edwin van der Sar, Ronaldo sank to his knees in the centre circle in celebration. "I was that stressed – the feeling was so great and to be honest I didn't believe we'd won the Champions League," he explained. "I feel very proud. The lads have worked very well and it's a good night for us. They believed all the time and they deserve to win the Champions League. This is everything for me, I have looked forward to winning this competition and it's my first Champions League."
'Great feeling'Ronaldo's goal in Moscow was his eighth in the competition this season, two more than any other player, and took his season tally to 42, a clear source of satisfaction – yet he is already looking ahead to UEFA EURO 2008™. "I'm very proud, everything has come right for me," he said. "My team-mates have helped me a lot; we've won the Premier League and the Champions League, so everything is good . It's been a magnificent season and it's a great feeling; when you pick up the trophy it's amazing. We're going to enjoy tonight; we'll have a party and then I'll start to think about EURO. It's a fantastic year with my club, and now I want to win that as well."
2007/08 UEFA Champions League top scorers
Player
Club
Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United FC
8
Lionel Messi
FC Barcelona
6
Didier Drogba
Chelsea FC
6
Steven Gerrard
Liverpool FC
6
Fernando Torres
Liverpool FC
6
Ryan Babel
Liverpool FC
5
Dirk Kuyt
Liverpool FC
5
Raúl González
Real Madrid CF
5
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