FCBARCELONA.CAT

26.05.2009 18:43

Ronaldo says game about more than him and Messi

David Saura (enviat especial)

Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi are the media’s chosen symbols for the duel in Rome on Wednesday, when not only Europe’s top team trophy is up for grabs, but so too is the prize for the best individual – the European Player of the year award.

The United forward puts retaining the Champions League ahead of any individual prize, claiming: “I’m very motivated for the game – I want to win and make history”. A win for Unired would make them the first team to win the Champions League two seasons on the run. Even so, Ronaldo accepted that: “if we win, obviously I’ll have a better chance of winning the Player of the Year Award, but that’s not something I’m thinking about right now”.

Messi, “a great player”

Although Ronaldo accepts it’s “normal” that the media has focused on him and Messi, he insisted: “I’m completely concentrated on the game and I just want to help my team to win” and at the insistence of various reporters in their questions about Messi he explained: “he’s a great player, but Barca have other great players, like Eto’o and Henry too. I have a lot of respect for them”.

“United are the best team”

Tomorrow’s game is not just a clash between the two best individuals, it’s also a chance to weigh up the strengths of the Premier League and La Liga and Ronaldo was clear which he saw as the best: “I see a lot of La Liga games and I enjoy them, but I think the Premier League is stronger. I think United are the best and I hope we can beat Barca”.