Sir Alex Ferguson claims Middlesbrough have become “paranoid” about Cristiano Ronaldo.
The United manager’s comment, ahead of the sides’ meeting at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, follows a series of controversial penalty incidents involving the player during encounters between the two clubs this season.
Fouls on Ronaldo, by Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and defender Jonathan Woodgate, led to crucial penalties in last December’s Premiership meeting on Teesside and the FA Cup fifth-round replay at Old Trafford last month, both games which United won.
The 22-year-old also scored from the penalty spot after Boro midfielder George Boateng was penalised for handball during the initial FA Cup tie at the Riverside Stadium.
Critical comments against Ronaldo by Boateng, for which he was disciplined by Middlesbrough, have soured the relationship between the two clubs, as have suggestions from the Boro camp that Ronaldo has dived to win penalties
Ferguson said: “I think Middlesbrough have become paranoid about Ronaldo, which, to a certain extent, you can understand when you acknowledge that penalties have cost them in their last three fixtures with us.
“They have disputed them all but, for me, the referee has got it right on all three occasions.”
[Source]