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<H1>Roma stars hit out at 'protected' Ronaldo</H1>
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Roma players Christian Panucci and Mancini have warned Cristiano Ronaldo he cannot expect 'protection' from the referee when the Italians host Manchester United on Wednesday. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
The sides meet in the Champions League quarter-final first leg this week and former Chelsea and Italy full-back Panucci said:
'Ronaldo's class is unquestionable. But I believe he abuses his dribbling talents and always exaggerates his falls.
'A lot will depend on the referee but in Roma Ronaldo will not be daring enough to do it because we will not fall for his tricks.'
Brazilian attacker Mancini, also quoted in the Daily Mail, added: 'I've watched Premier League matches and he is protected by referees. 'I don't think he will be on Wednesday.'
Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson is set to leave Louis Saha behind when Manchester United head to Italy.
The French forward has been absent for five weeks with a hamstring injury but is now nearing full fitness.
Ferguson believes Saha is definitely okay to fulfil bench duties in Rome's Olympic Stadium.
However, with so many key games looming, including the second leg of their European adventure at Old Trafford a week tomorrow, Ferguson is tempted to leave Saha behind to gain extra match practice in Thursday's reserve team encounter with Blackburn at Christie Park.
If Saha does turn out for the Red Devils' second string, he will be joined by Scotland international Darren Fletcher, who has made a quicker than expected recovery from an ankle injury he picked up in the FA Cup fifth round replay with at Reading in February.
Providing the pair come through without a problem, they will link up with United's senior squad on Friday evening as Ferguson has decided to keep his party in the Italian capital for the rest of the week, rather than flying home in the early hours of Thursday morning, then embarking on another trip on Friday in readiness for the weekend tussle with Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
With Nemanja Vidic joining defensive duo Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre on the sidelines by injuring his collarbone in a heavy fall against Blackburn on Saturday, Ferguson's resources are being stretched and 18-year-old Belfast-born defender Craig Cathcart is set to be on the bench this week as United look to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2002.
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Roma players Christian Panucci and Mancini have warned Cristiano Ronaldo he cannot expect 'protection' from the referee when the Italians host Manchester United on Wednesday. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
The sides meet in the Champions League quarter-final first leg this week and former Chelsea and Italy full-back Panucci said:
'Ronaldo's class is unquestionable. But I believe he abuses his dribbling talents and always exaggerates his falls.
'A lot will depend on the referee but in Roma Ronaldo will not be daring enough to do it because we will not fall for his tricks.'
Brazilian attacker Mancini, also quoted in the Daily Mail, added: 'I've watched Premier League matches and he is protected by referees. 'I don't think he will be on Wednesday.'
Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson is set to leave Louis Saha behind when Manchester United head to Italy.
The French forward has been absent for five weeks with a hamstring injury but is now nearing full fitness.
Ferguson believes Saha is definitely okay to fulfil bench duties in Rome's Olympic Stadium.
However, with so many key games looming, including the second leg of their European adventure at Old Trafford a week tomorrow, Ferguson is tempted to leave Saha behind to gain extra match practice in Thursday's reserve team encounter with Blackburn at Christie Park.
If Saha does turn out for the Red Devils' second string, he will be joined by Scotland international Darren Fletcher, who has made a quicker than expected recovery from an ankle injury he picked up in the FA Cup fifth round replay with at Reading in February.
Providing the pair come through without a problem, they will link up with United's senior squad on Friday evening as Ferguson has decided to keep his party in the Italian capital for the rest of the week, rather than flying home in the early hours of Thursday morning, then embarking on another trip on Friday in readiness for the weekend tussle with Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
With Nemanja Vidic joining defensive duo Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre on the sidelines by injuring his collarbone in a heavy fall against Blackburn on Saturday, Ferguson's resources are being stretched and 18-year-old Belfast-born defender Craig Cathcart is set to be on the bench this week as United look to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2002.