'We need to stop him': Ruthless Rooney ready to ruin Ronaldo's Red Devils return

5 Mar 2013 17:54

"But we have to look at Ronaldo as a Real Madrid player, not an ex-United one," says the Manchester United striker

Ronaldo and Rooney: From team-mates to opponents

Wayne Rooney says Manchester United must view former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the enemy tonight.
Ronaldo returns to Old Trafford for the first time since his £80million world record move to Real Madrid in 2009.
And Rooney said United cannot afford to let sentiment get in the way of Ronaldo's return as they eye a quarter-final place at Madrid's expense.
"We've faced former players before," said Rooney. "That's part of football. It happens.
"Some players move on. He [Ronaldo] came into the dressing-room after the game [in Madrid] which was nice.
"He was always very popular with the players here and, of course, the fans.
"But we have to look at Ronaldo as a Real Madrid player, not an ex-United one.
"We need to stop him and make sure it's us going through to the quarter-finals."
Rooney also said United cannot afford to focus too much on Ronaldo or they run the risk of being punished by Madrid's other danger players.

Former favourite: Cristiano Ronaldo in his Man United days

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"If you focus too much on Cristiano you might lose track of the other players and you can't afford to do that," Rooney told United Review.
"You could put all your focus on Cristiano, but then [Mesut] Ozil might pop up or [Karim] Benzema will.
"Then you've got [Angel] Di Maria, who likes to come inside a lot. These players are capable of hurting you.
"We therefore have to make sure we defend right across the back line rather than just to one side.
"Knowing the manager, he'll want us to try and score goals, but we also know we have to defend well.
"I think we'll play a similar game-plan to the one in Spain, because we did create chances.
"And if we create those chances again, I'm sure we'll take a few more of them.
"It'll mean nothing if we don't finish the job here.
"You've got probably the two biggest clubs worldwide going head to head. These are special nights and ones you want to enjoy.
"You just hope you can express yourself and help the team win."