FERGUSON WARNS RONALDO

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has issued a stark warning to Cristiano Ronaldo: Stop sulking and start playing for the team.

Manchester United boss Ferguson is concerned that his star winger's temperament is having a negative effect on recent performances.

Sir Alex shares Ronaldo's anger at not receiving sufficient protection from referees but that does not excuse the player a blast of Fergie's hairdryer.

Twice in their last two games, the Portugal international has frittered away possession leading to goals for Aston Villa and Porto. And his manager reckons Ronaldo must cut out the petulance and accept he has a duty to play for the team.

Ferguson said: "No, I don't accept that he will give goals away because of the player he is. I speak to him about it. I don't accept that from anyone.

"In European football, in particular, you give the ball away and it takes a long time to get it back. It has always been a big part of our strategy and philosophy in Europe - keeping possession of the ball.

"It's really important. He's not immune from that. He always feels he's not getting the proper protection and I think that maybe in quite a few cases he is right, and a few cases he is not right.

"It's hard when a player who wants to entertain all doesn't get everything his way. You can't get everything your own way. He understands that, and there's not a problem with that.

"It's just a frustration that he feels that he doesn't get the decision and he gets upset about it. I think obviously he doesn't enjoy that and he knows he's letting himself down more than anything.

"He holds his hands up, I have had to remind him about that but I'm not getting into what has been said. "

A recent dip in form has provoked the argument that United's dominance has started to crumble. But the manager finds that ludicrous.

Fergie said: "That's why I was trying to dampen down all the hyperbole before. I know what football's like - it can kick you in the teeth.

"There is no middle ground with us. It's either heaven or hell. One week we are in heaven next week we're in hell. What do you do about it? Shake hands with the devil?"

Fergie is confident that his team can progress into the Champions League semi-finals despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Porto at Old Trafford.

United have to become the first English team to beat Porto on their home ground to keep their Euro hopes alive. Fergie believes their quarter final opponents will make a mistake if they try to repeat their tactics of the last round.

Then they held Atletico Madrid to a 2-2 draw and put up the shutters for a 0-0 draw in their home leg. After 22 unbeaten games in Europe, Fergie is proud of his team's record as ground-breakers in all competitions.

He said: "Our mindset will be to make sure we get into the game quicker than we did on Tuesday. We have to get into the rhythm of our game quicker. If we do we'll give them something to think about.

"I watched their game when they drew 2-2 with Atletico Madrid over there. They never looked to score on their own ground. They just played defensively.

"That is a dangerous game to play against us because you will always fancy us to score. We are very good at being the first to do things.

"We were the first English team to win the European Cup, the first to win the Premier League, first to win the World Club Championship and first to win the Intercontinental Cup. Our record in that respect holds firm."