Paul Parker Article

Different kind of pressure for Ronaldo

Thu Jul 02 11:18AM

Now that Cristiano Ronaldo has completed his £80m move to Real Madrid, we'll see exactly what the Portuguese forward is made of.

The size of the fee, making him the most expensive player in the world, immediately ramps up the pressure on his shoulders.

For that kind of money - and for the wages he will be getting - failure will not be accepted and he will be expected to perform from day one at the Bernabeu.

That's an entirely different situation to the one he found himself in when he arrived at Manchester United.

Back then, in 2003, he was a relatively unknown youngster who merely showed promise. Nothing was expected of him straight away.

He took a few years to adjust before growing into one of the best players in the world, but question marks remain over his ability to perform under intense pressure.

Having scored 42 goals a couple of seasons ago, the hype surrounding him was incredible at the beginning of the last campaign, especially after he had spent the summer being linked with Real.

But on the whole, I don't think he handled it too well. He was too reactive to pressure-cooker situations. He did not play with a smile on his face and he always seemed angry, whether with the opposition, the referee or his own team-mates.

Yes, another season performing at such a high level was virtually impossible. Yes, he managed to score another 26 goals. And yes, he added a few more medals to his collection.

But his performances and his attitude, especially in some of the bigger games, did not suggest he was comfortable playing under such pressure.

Ronaldo certainly needs to add consistency to his game in those big matches. The problem is that next season every game will be a big one for Real.

Having conceded the title to Barcelona, Real fans will be desperate for their team to avoid any further embarrassment.

With Ronaldo and Kaka in their ranks - and Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery expected to follow - they will be looking to surpass Barca, not just equal them.

And having been the undisputed top dog at United, Ronaldo must once again prove himself the main man ahead of some very illustrious colleagues.

Of course that breeds yet more pressure and yet more scrutiny, both of which Ronaldo will have to learn to deal with. If not, he'll find out how quicky the Real fans can turn on their own players.

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i think mr parker knows what hes talking about,after all he played for united unlike the people who comment on this page.so he should have a lot better insight.
From cazpro77 on Thu Jul 02 02:53PM
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Real Madrid is a place where all football stars get finished.In 2 years to come you will see Ronaldo playing like a social football player. The pressure will be too huge for him and hhhhhhh all the Stars that REAL have procured will be aiming at outshining each other and in the end they will get nothing. So more good time for Barca.
From sekaniachamkonda on Thu Jul 02 02:58PM
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I think Ronaldo will tear up that league,best player without a doubt who will be sorely missed by United.So looking forward to watching Real v Barca
fantasy football.good luck Ronaldo
From loversports on Thu Jul 02 02:59PM
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ribery,tevez and benzema snubbed MAN U and you are not writting about it fo.... cause it is not CHELSEA.Are you still on MAN U payroll?
From collins.wali on Thu Jul 02 03:04PM
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I cant see ronaldo working well with that team, nowhere what he could have achieved at utd. madrid is full of his stereotypical values good luck to him.
From murdertil10 on Thu Jul 02 03:04PM
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all the top strikers real are buying does not mean they will be as good as when they played for there old clubs some players never play as good in another team and u are only as good if your midfield and defence are
From greo2001 on Thu Jul 02 03:08PM
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So another empty article from PP; we all understand that you don´t like Ronaldo, but what´s the point talk about him now?
btw, en 2003 to a " unknown youngster " he was too expensive!
another waste of time reading this article
From lfdias3 on Thu Jul 02 03:12PM
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If there is a loser in this it must be United and Fergie!! Yes, they have brought Valencia as a replacement.. but valencia is an old fashionned right wing who doesnt seem to have plan B. I know fergie will try to transform him into a mordern right winger.. but at certain ages, players can't be transformed.. You can't lose a 25 plus goal scoring winger.. they are not there at the moment. .....So Pressure is on Fergie and Man united!!!!!!!
From jamsano on Thu Jul 02 03:18PM
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WHO GIVES A MONKEY'S
From mjb6666 on Thu Jul 02 03:20PM
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WHO GIVES A MONKEYS!!!!!
From mjb6666 on Thu Jul 02 03:22PM
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SILL TALKING THE SAME RUBBISH P.PARKER
From mjb6666 on Thu Jul 02 03:23PM
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Are we talking about the same Cristiano Ronaldo, the same guy who scored 8 goals in 11 matches of the Champions League in 07/08, the same guy who tore up Arsenal in the Champions League semifinal this year. The same Ronaldo who scored a fantastic goal against Porto. The same guy who was booed in every stadium because he 'apparently' got Rooney sent and then came back to England and proved the critics wrong. One things that Ronaldo loves is people to doubt him and that is what motivates him to do well. PRESSURE what pressure, so to tell the truth i think he will thrive in Real Madrid and I sincerely do hope he does and shows up all the people who doubt him as being the best. By the way I am Manchester United supporter and whether we like it or not we will miss him and I wish him the very best.
From jaytayo on Thu Jul 02 03:24PM
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It may take a little playing time to get used to Ronaldo not playing with the United team 1st 11, he has been there for a few years having a good relation ship with the likes of rooney and company scoring some prolific goals and involved in some great movements whether he socred or not and he will certainly be missed. However i wouldnt say United and Fergie is losing sleep over it, they are re building and coming back stronger.
From sivirtue on Thu Jul 02 03:29PM
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parker, please stop your jealousy since you are not the best player in the world. you have to accept that fact. looser!
From woundxp on Thu Jul 02 03:31PM
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Paul paul paul, what can i say? paul paul paul...
From kuide8888 on Thu Jul 02 03:34PM
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paul, u rly jst stated out the obvious. im a manchester united supporter, and even when he was with us i hated him till death i ddnt care how much goals he scored bt the attitude he played in, most of the supporters were thinkin like this but we man uts supporters tend to 4give and 4get, but in real he will be a ZEROOOO he will crack and shi* under his pants in the first important game in real and tht will cost him his support. second, tht loser has a big big BIG ego and there at real with all those stars , he will get frustrated and his performance will reach a gr8 low. i hope every real player who picked money over heart to rot in hell! only players with heart deserve this kind of support anw MAN UTD 4ever
From charlesghorayeb on Thu Jul 02 03:41PM
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JUST SHOW THEM RONALDO, AND SHUT THEM ALL UP, YOUR JUST THE BEST, A SAD LOSS TO ENGLISH FOOTBALL.
From jckymalone on Thu Jul 02 03:45PM
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I hope he turns into the next Micheal Owen.
From leepurch2004 on Thu Jul 02 03:57PM
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Great article paul... and about man utd as well... well.. that's new !!
dude... YOU ARE @#$%... retire from journalism and buy a season ticket to old trafford... spend your time kissing fergie's @#$%... dream @#$% true... aint it...??
From lucky3_ash on Thu Jul 02 04:09PM
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why all the hate for PP. if you dont want to read his articles just pass over you twats
From kaggwa2000 on Thu Jul 02 04:17PM
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Please tell me you don't get paid to write this stuff zzzzzZZZZ
From jmaddocks1975 on Thu Jul 02 04:22PM
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boring article, i can sum up that @#$% article in like 9 words "Ronaldo will have pressure on him to preform well" Thats pretty obvious, very unnecessary article. But yet we cant expect much from @#$% parker
From mrcrocodilemr01 on Thu Jul 02 04:23PM
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MAN U big team PAUL PARKER big player
From kaggwa2000 on Thu Jul 02 04:39PM
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How the hell has Ronaldo got pressure on him?
He is one of the best players in the world, playing in one of the biggest teams in the world, for one of the highest pay packets in the world.
Poor thing how will he cope
From danswaste on Thu Jul 02 04:40PM
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Stop reading his articles if your just gona complain, your saying "nothing new here", its the same on the comment boards. Im sure some people don't even read his articles, and just come on here to say the same things over and over again.
From loafer_11 on Thu Jul 02 04:53PM
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First game in la liga: cRonaldo gets the ball, runs down the right flank, steps over a few times then tries to take it to the byline - gets closed down by a defender like a sissy girl and has to pass it out to Kaka, who promptly sets up Ruud/Karim for a goal with a world class pass.
Ronaldo's a meat-head winger who scored a ton of goals when teams couldn't handle him and then started whining when teams started muscling him off the ball.
From rikmicp on Thu Jul 02 04:54PM
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Real Madrid stand absolutely no chance against Barca, Wolfsburg or even the humble West Ham United, CRonaldo has proved to be nothing but a choker since that missed penalty in the CL Semi Final in 2008. He only scores against teams where the defence including the goalkeeper have been put on the transfer list against their wishes. CRonaldo will score 50 goals next season against the Tapas Bar team's but when it comes to the mighty Barca he will be found in a telephone kiosk on Las Ramblas phoning his mummy for an extra pair of shiney brown shorts
From arttidesco on Thu Jul 02 05:07PM
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Paul Parker should stop causing controversy where there is none.The truth remains that Ronaldo has left Man Utd, period. Therefore, where there is going to be pressure on him or not is not Paul Parkers business. The simply fact remains that Man Utd has lost one of its top stars in Ronaldo. Paul Parker cook up any imaginery pressure but the gospel truth is that Ronaldo is faced with a new challenge which not unheard of. Paul Parker as a blogger should dwell less on his darling team, Man Utd and try to be objective. At least, for now, Chelsea is no longer his stock in trade but how Ronaldo left Man Utd and all kinds of rubbish. I take serious exception to this kind of rubbish journalism. Enough of the rubbish from this guy. We are not fooled by this senseless article.
From amaidunama on Thu Jul 02 05:14PM
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he is a good footy player but i dot think hes the best in the world are u serious now
From bump_flex2001 on Thu Jul 02 05:16PM
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A better article would've discussed Real Madrids problems at the back. Barca scored 6 in one match against them last season and Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema and Ribery do nothing to address that situation. Typical Read Madrid, building a palace on sand.
From jamieellis1966 on Thu Jul 02 05:25PM
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