Eurosport - Fri, 06 Mar 12:23:00 2009
Cristiano Ronaldo's "arrogance" makes him a target for opposing defenders, according to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
Hitting out at the rise of rash challenges in the Barclays Premier League of late, Wenger used the example of the Manchester United winger as a player who does not always get enough protection.
"Sometimes I feel Manchester United get too much protection and sometimes they don't get enough and Ronaldo is a specific example of that," Wenger said.
"Sometimes his arrogance is provocative - and his class as well.
"But when a player is not protected it's not right. When there is a bad tackle you have to be punished and get sent off the pitch."
Ronaldo was in the wars again during United's 2-1 win over Newcastle at St James' Park on Wednesday night, clashing with Alan Smith on the pitch and Steven Taylor off it in a tunnel bust-up.
Wenger has been concerned by a rise in reckless tackles this season.
Wigan's Lee Cattermole saw red on Wednesday night for a lunge at Scott Parker, while Everton yesterday confirmed that Victor Anichebe will miss the rest of the season as a result of a Kevin Nolan tackle on January 22.
Wenger wants to see longer bans of up to 10 matches introduced for guilty players, claiming three matches is not enough when the victims can be sidelined for so long.
"They could create a special committee to analyse if three [games' suspension] is enough or not," he said. "I feel in some tackles 10 games is not enough."
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Comment 49 - 68 of 88
Spot on Tommi, and I agree he's an arrogant @#$%... arrogance borne from being so damned talented.
Gecko, I agree, Cantona in his prime was a better player than Ronaldo will ever be, but he was hated too. I agree Ronaldo is a diving cheat, and that is wrong, but he is by no means the only one. It is his talent that singles him out for abuse. Xabi Alonso is a diving cheat but nodoby cares 'cos he's useless.
Ronaldo should f off to madrid.....I hope he has a career ending injury as he is a disgrace to football.....CHEATING SCUM DIE
If anyone actually decides to stick up for him, despite being a good player is a disgrace to football and has no respect from true fans
Ahahaha all these United fans starting pish about Wenger calling Ronaldo arrogant, yet totally missing the point Wenger makes. DUH!!! Sorry but Ronaldo is arrogant, and to deny that is becaue youre blind. Wenger is not critising Ronaldo he is making a point that the cocky players get it the hardest. Ronaldo's arrogance is fact, not a personal insult from Wenger.
Cantona is way better than Ronaldo....Ronaldo is not even the best player in the united team let alone the world! Rooney, carrick, ferdinand, and van der sar is the backbone of the team!! All the these players i mention would shine playing for west brom, i do not believe ronaldo would! And if he is fouled with the refs protection, he only has his self to blame for being a diving cheat
post 55 Cutchy1690 spot on mate totally agree best post yet
...really,Ronaldos dribbling even when its not necessary do provoke some defenders to want to hurt him.
No. 55, He IS the best player in the world.
Don't you read the news reports. Idiot!!
Cutchy, Ronaldo IS the best player in the world, Messi is 2nd... the tropies in Ronaldo's cabinet proves that, and they were voted for by players, managers and footballing press, not biased numpties whose only joy in life is to lick the windows of their little yellow bus. lol
Do you lot actually believe that ref are 'bought' by managers??? Damn, you are not as smart as the doctors give you credit for.
Wenger is more right this time as always. I like and see Messi, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Torres, Cesc and others as world class players.They play good football without been proud but for Ronaldo, he is a fool, a very arrogant player, so proud.Many people probably would never see him as a good player if he continues playinng as if he is the first to win the FIFA award. Kaka has but very humble.I really think EPL refs are probably been partial, esp with Manu. REfs hardly give penalty even when Manu Players foul someone in the box. On wednesday's match was same when Vidic fouled Martins.The FA should look into this before people probably get bored with EPL pls.
Its a pity about those who dislike the worlds best player after all King Eric was arrogant and he was brilliant just like Ronado.who gives a @#$% what the french frog thinks as long as Sir Alex and the supporters are happy we are all happy plus i have seen gerrard dive plenty of times and plenty of others because its the great Ronaldo the attention turns to him.Ronaldo does not need protection he is a big boy now and when other players are trying to break him up he just gets up and makes a show of them thats why i don't want him getting protection the likes of the little sc_mbag taylor of newcastle thats all he could do to be seeing because i did not see him during the match taylor is a nobody.GLORY GLORY MAN UTD THE WORLDS GREATEST CLUB.
Ronaldo should learn to be more humble. Considering the fact he couldn't lace Messi's boots, he acts as though he's the best player in the world. Look at the classy way that Messi carries himself. And it's always about the TEAM with Messi. With Ronaldo, it's all about HIM.
It never ceases to amuse me that so many of you jump on the "I hate Ronaldo" and "No Man Utd fans are from Manchester" bandwagons. Of course you are right, there are more United fan outside Manchester, but only because it's not possible to fit 30 million fans in the city. As a Manc red, born and bred in Manchester, I respect Ronaldo for his talent as a fooballer, but he doesn't half frustrate me too. That said, you lot never seem to attack the Torres' or Drogba's of this world, why is that? They dive just as much as Ronaldo. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Ronaldo actually affects how the match can turn out, whereas the other two are ineffective in the extreme. And how come nobody has mentioned Scott Parker's play acting this week? Even Eduardo didn't roll about like that when he suffered that horrendous injury, yet Parker should have been awarded the freedom of Hollywood with that performance.
I think Wenger is a @#$% and that he should dream off arsenal being as good as man utd :)
glory glory FTW
lets all pray 4 AdrianP. very very very well said mate................
i'm ur fan from now on. wanna b friends
this jumping dog should be & is rightfully targetted by defenders.................
d refs r bought by alex, rafa etc. so somebody gotta stop em. so why not defenders breaking there knees
Hi Mr. Wenger,
You have to try and make use of how to introduce dirty playing as how Chelsea does because you don't depend on soccer even Brazil happens to find it difficult to win games at times.
My point is tell Sir Alex to teach you how is has been successful when he was loosing games for two years.
As a man u fan I can honestly say ronaldo does my head in most of the time, he annoys me when he dives, he frustrates me when he tries to win the game on his own and his attitude is terrible. His diving doesn't help antone, if he dives and gets the foul its wrong, but its worse when, because of his reputation, he gets fouled (like in the carling cup final) and nothing is given. I personally wouldn't miss him if he went, fletcher can put in a better cross and has a better work rate, plus hargreaves is a better player, when he's fit!
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