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<SPAN class=storydate>20/03/2007 - </SPAN><SPAN class=storytime>3:30:53 PM</SPAN>
<SPAN class=storybody>Manchester United are circling the wagons to protect Cristiano Ronaldo.
Just as Alex Ferguson thought the abuse Ronaldo has been subjected to this season was beginning to subside, his brilliant young winger has been forced to endure another torrent.
FA Cup quarter-final victims Middlesbrough are nursing a major sense of grievance, knowing Ronaldo has played a major role in three controversial penalty calls that have gone against them this season.
And the "cheat" jibes from the Boro bench at Old Trafford last night were followed by a post-match Sky TV interview of Ronaldo as he collected his man-of-the-match award that infuriated Ferguson so much he branded it "a disgrace".
The row that erupted after Ronaldo fired United into Ferguson’s eighth FA Cup semi-final as a manager was somewhat needless, since replays clearly showed Jonathan Woodgate clipping the winger’s back leg as the pair tore into the penalty area at top speed.
However, Ferguson, Ronaldo’s mentor Carlos Queiroz, and the youngster’s team-mates can sense a witch hunt about to begin and have leapt to the 22-year-old’s defence both in word and, in Queiroz’s case, deed as he exchanged angry words with members of the opposition coaching staff immediately after the game.
“They are putting a stigma against the boy he doesn’t deserve,” stormed Ferguson.
“The interview was a disgrace. He (the interviewer) stretched it out hoping the boy would trip himself up. I was disgusted.”
If his public views are anything to go by, it does not take any great brain power to wonder what private thoughts Ferguson might have aired.
The United boss has spent time attempting to curb the excesses Ronaldo showed as a teenager immediately after his move from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 and, on this occasion, he was blameless, with Ryan Giggs among those to claim referee Mike Dean had got his decision spot on.
“My first thoughts were that it was a penalty,” said the experienced Welshman.
“Cristiano showed great pace and Woodgate caught him.”
As someone who had to put up with intense scrutiny himself during the early days of his career, Giggs understands what Ronaldo is going through.
Unlike Ronaldo, Giggs has largely been looked upon with affection by non-United fans.
However, that does not mean the 33-year-old is blind to his young team-mate’s supreme qualities.
“Cristiano has been a match-winner for us on numerous occasions this season,” he said.
"He can turn defence into attack in seconds. He won the penalty for us last night then had the calmness to put it away.
“To be honest, I think he likes the pressure of penalties. He always looks confident, which is what you need as a penalty taker.”
Last night’s win, as well as keeping United on course for the Treble, puts Giggs in line for a special place in FA Cup history.
Only three men have ever won the competition five times, and the last of those was well over a century ago.
It appeared Giggs’ chance of emulating the long-forgotten trio had passed when United were beaten on penalties by Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium two years ago.
Giggs started that game on the bench but, if United can overcome Watford at Villa Park – scene of the most famous moment of his entire career when he scored a superb solo goal against Arsenal – it is a fair bet that this time, the 33-year-old will be involved from the start.
“It has been a couple of years since we got to the FA Cup final but we are 90 minutes away now,” said Giggs.
“I know we will be massive favourites for the semi-final and it is at Villa Park, where we have enjoyed playing in the past. But we are not there yet. We have a tough game against Watford, hopefully we can get there.”</SPAN>