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SPORTS: Rio Ferdinand: Gareth Bale is brilliant, but Cristiano Ronaldo will be the hero in Champions League final

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Rio Ferdinand: Gareth Bale is brilliant, but Cristiano Ronaldo will be the hero in Champions League final

Former Manchester United defender backed his old team-mate to shine in Milan

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Rio Ferdinand has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to make the difference in the Champions League final
EXCLUSIVE by PAUL JIGGINS
16:30, 27 May 2016
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RIO FERDINAND believes there is only going to be one hero at the San Siro — and that is his old pal Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester United’s 2008 Champions League-winning captain cannot wait to see Antoine Griezmann and Gareth Bale strut their stuff in Saturday’s all-Madrid final between Real and Atletico in Milan.
But Rio reckons both are still second billing to his former United team-mate.
Ronaldo prepares for the Champions League final at the San Siro on Friday
Ronaldo prepares for the Champions League final at the San Siro on Friday Splash News

The ex-England star said: “Gareth Bale has done brilliantly at Real but you can’t look beyond Cristiano.
“In each of his last three seasons he has hit more than 50 goals.
“When we were at United everyone always thought he was going to be world-class. That was never in doubt.

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“But nobody can turn around and say they expected him to score 50 goals a season. No one could have imagined it was possible.
“Things like that just weren’t done, not even thought about. The top players in the world back then were scoring 30-35 goals a season.
video Cristiano Ronaldo was just going out for tea and this happened thumbnail
Cristiano Ronaldo was just going out for tea and this happened

Ronaldo and his team-mates are put through their paces in training in Milan
Ronaldo and his team-mates are put through their paces in training in Milan Getty Images

Ferdinand lifted the Champions League with Ronaldo for Manchester United in 2008
Ferdinand lifted the Champions League with Ronaldo for Manchester United in 2008 PA:Press Association

“But Cristiano and Lionel Messi have blown away expectations and rewritten the history books.
“It means now if they score 30 goals each next season they would have had a disgraceful campaign.
“It’s incredible. They have taken it up to a whole new level.”
And Rio, 37, has urged football fans to watch the Portuguese matador deliver a masterclass while they can.
The BT Sport pundit said: “Everyone seems to love Messi but Cristiano doesn’t really get the respect and adulation he deserves.
video Gareth Bale's super goals in training thumbnail
Gareth Bale's super goals in training

The Portuguese forward has a shot at goal as manager Zinedine Zidane watches on
The Portuguese forward has a shot at goal as manager Zinedine Zidane watches on Getty Images

“They both deserve the highest praise. They have made this a golden era for football — but I don’t think we appreciate it yet. You normally only get one truly world-class player in a generation but we have two. We should savour them while we can.”
Patriotic Rio will watch Saturday’s clash with a heavy heart.
He said: “As an Englishman you have to be disappointed that we have no clubs in the final again.
“But you cannot hide the fact our teams are not good enough.
“The Premier League standard this season has not been rubbish but it was nowhere near as high as years gone by. A big reason has been inconsistency.
video Please come back to the Premier League Ronaldo thumbnail
Please come back to the Premier League Ronaldo

Gareth Bale and Co take part in a training drill at the San Siro on Friday
Gareth Bale and Co take part in a training drill at the San Siro on Friday Getty Images

“The only two consistent teams in the division this season were Leicester and Tottenham — and I can’t see them doing any better in the Champions League.”
The Foxes will be embarking on their first ever Champions League campaign after winning the Prem title this term, while third-placed Spurs will only be making their second appearance.
But Rio – who also played for United when they lost to Barcelona in the finals of 2009 and 2011 — said: “They simply do not have the quality of Europe’s best.
“Leicester have sat back this season and invited teams to come at them. If they do that in the Champions League they will more than likely get punished.
video Will Gareth Bale ever come back to the Premier League? We hope so thumbnail
Will Gareth Bale ever come back to the Premier League? We hope so

Ronaldo celebrates after scoring in the 2014 final when Real Madrid beat Atletico 4-1
Ronaldo celebrates after scoring in the 2014 final when Real Madrid beat Atletico 4-1 Reuters

Fernando Torres and his Atletico Madrid team-mates in training in Milan on Friday
Fernando Torres and his Atletico Madrid team-mates in training in Milan on Friday Splash News

“The top strikers in that competition only need half a chance.
“Atletico have done really well to get past Bayern and Barca. But Real have already beaten them in a Champions League final — 4-1 two years ago.
“That is a big thing mentally — it is a big factor and I think Real will take confidence from that.
“But then if Griezmann gets just one chance he could win it for Atletico.
“Diego Godin is the other key player for Atletico. He is something else, he makes the back four tick.”
l BT Sport is your home of unmissable live football. Watch the Uefa Champions League final exclusively live on Saturday, May 28 on BT Sport Europe, BT Sport Showcase and live on YouTube via youtube.com/btsport

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