Soccer-Ferguson praises Ronaldo, spares a thought for Wenger
LONDON, May 5 (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson lauded Cristiano Ronaldo and offered sympathy for old adversary Arsene Wenger after his side ripped Arsenal apart to reach the Champions League final on Tuesday.
Ronaldo scored twice as a rampant United won 3-1 at the Emirates to complete a 4-1 aggregate victory and put them on the verge of becoming the first club to retain the Champions League.
"I thought tonight they couldn't handle him," Ferguson told reporters of Ronaldo. who scored an audacious 40 metre free kick after 11 minutes to put United 2-0 up and finished off a breathtaking counter-attack on the hour.
"Yes, we had a midfield that worked its socks off and had good shape and good cover, but we needed someone to give them real problems and Ronaldo in that form...well he's fantatsic."
The nature of United's victory clearly shook Wenger who faces a fourth consecutive season without a trophy and, on this evidence, a long way from Champions League glory.
"I have sympathy for him," Ferguson said of Wenger who he has regularly clashed with over the years in one of the fiercest rivalries in club football.
"I know exactly how he feels. Prior to Barcelona (in 1999) it was a criticism of me that we hadn't won the Champions League. When you work as hard as he has and been there as long as he has been he deserves the success."
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