Ronaldo Benched, Macheda Scores

ronaldo and anderson

Teenage sensation Federico Macheda rescued Manchester United’s Premier League title challenge for the second time in a week yesterday — and diverted attention from a crisis confrontation between Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson and moody superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

World player of the year Ronaldo was dropped to the bench as United clung to their single-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at Sunderland.

Italian Macheda, only 17, scored the late winner after appearing as a substitute, just as he did against Aston Villa last Sunday.

Sir Alex decided to act after Ronaldo’s error in the 2-2 draw with Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday left United with a tough task to retain their European crown.

But Ferguson’s public dressing-down of a player he has previously defended could increase the likelihood of Ronaldo being sold to Real Madrid for a world record £75million this summer.

Ferguson said of Ronaldo’s midweek performance, when his misdirected pass led to Porto’s opening goal: ‘You don’t accept any player giving goals away like that. Of course, I have spoken to him about it. I don’t accept that from anyone and nobody is immune from criticism about it.

Source: DailyMail

Posted on April 12, 2009 | Filed Under Football