RON BLAST FOR BLUES

24 November 2006

United v Chelsea 'not our biggest game'
They would fall apart without Jose
By David McDonnell


CRISTIANO RONALDO has taunted Chelsea ahead of Sunday's Premiership title showdown with Manchester United.

He claimed United have more important matches than games against the Blues and insisted they will lose their way if Jose Mourinho leaves.

Despite Chelsea boasting a worldclass squad, United star Ronaldo believes boss Mourinho is the chief reason for the club's success.


And in the build-up to the clash at Old Trafford, the winger said: "I'd like to see what would happen if he left Chelsea. Perhaps they would stop getting good results in England."


Mourinho has already admitted he considered quitting last season because he felt his double Premiership champions were not getting enough respect.


Ronaldo also belittled Chelsea by claiming they are only United's FOURTH biggest game of the season.


"Rivalry between us and Chelsea exists," said Ronaldo, who has told Sir Alex Ferguson he is ready to become United's penalty-taker following Louis Saha's last-minute miss in the 1-0 Champions League defeat to Celtic.


"But there isn't the same passion as the Manchester derby or games against Arsenal or Liverpool. Perhaps it's because now they are doing well, whereas before it had always been United at the top."


Chelsea's approach also came under fire from the Portugal star, who claimed they are too cautious and do just enough to win games instead of turning on the style.


The 21-year-old also claimed the much-heralded summer arrivals of Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko had done little to improve Chelsea's squad.


"Chelsea are about the same as last year," Ronaldo added.


"The transfers of Shevchenko and Ballack haven't changed them too much.


"Chelsea have to work harder to win games. They just do enough to win matches."

credit: mirror.co.uk