Man Utd ace Ronaldo: New tricks on the way

Man Utd ace Ronaldo: New tricks on the way

Manchester United wing ace Cristiano Ronaldo says he'll continue introducing new tricks to his game.
Ronaldo told the Daily Mail: "I was born with my ability. The stepover, for example, is something I did as soon as I started in my first teams. I used to play football on the street when I was a boy, and every day I tried to do different things.

"I always tried to invent new dribbles, new moves. Things would come into my mind and I'd try them. I think this attitude stayed. I always looked to have my own identity. That was my dream.

"The tricks came with me. I didn't watch football on television. But, of course, other players inspire you. I used to go to watch my cousins and brothers, and sometimes I would try and do the same things as them. My father was a kit man for the local club; I was always with him, watching the matches.

He added: "I wasn't always big. Even when I left Madeira at 13 I remember people saying I couldn't become a professional because I was too short. Then, suddenly, between 15 and 18 I jumped up and became as tall as I am now.

"But in the days playing in the street, it was always against older, much bigger, boys. I suffered because I had good ability and I dribbled a lot, suddenly I'd be pushed or tackled hard and I was out of the game. Sometimes when I tricked them, they didn't like it. They beat me sometimes.

"But it never stopped me being the player I am. I've always had a strong personality, because when a defender tackles you hard or challenges you mentally, you can't show weakness. You have to try and get over it and beat them with the ball."

Ronaldo has more end-product to his skills now, too.

"Nowadays it doesn't matter what tricks I do, they have to be of use to the team.

"If you want to be one of the best players in the world, which I want to, you have to learn all the time. Another thing I have to do is finish better and get more goals. If you are a good scorer people see you in a different dimension. In a couple of years, if I'm scoring more, people will think better of me."