Ronaldo finally wins over the critics

Real Madrid coach Vincente del Bosque never thought he needed Ronaldo anyway but on Wednesday night even he had to acknowledge the debt he owed the Brazil World Cup winner.

Ronaldo's hat-trick earned him a standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd as Real knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League in a majestic match.

Real president Florentino Perez had gone against del Bosque's advice when he paid Inter Milan 45 million euros for the 26-year-old last August.

De Bosque thought that with Luis Figo and world record signing Zinedine Zidane, who cost 72 million euros from Juventus, plus homegrown Raul Gonzalez, he had all the talent he needed.

But Ronaldo turned boos into cheers on Wednesday as his hat-trick ensured Real Madrid edged into the Champions League semi-finals.

"Tonight was his night," Del Bosque said grudgingly.

"We managed to create three chances for him and he scored from all three, and he also gave us a good target."

"He is gradually coming into form and becoming the player we want him to be."

Ronaldo was named FIFA World Player of the Year for an unprecedented third time last December after a year which saw him complete his recovery from a career-threatening knee injury to finish the World Cup as leading scorer as Brazil won a record fifth title.

But he had so far failed to impress the demanding Spanish.
Ronaldo has been criticised by the Madrid press for his liking for fast cars and partying, and he does look a little overweight.
But Perez advised Ronaldo to be patient.

"The same thing happened last season with Zidane and the year before with Figo. I'm sure Ronaldo will eventually be the player all the supporters hoped he would be," Perez said before Wednesday's heroics.

And yet it was a rare headed goal by Ronaldo which qualified Real for the quarter-finals in a 1-0 must-win game away to Lokomotiv Moscow in March.

And last week he scored his 16th goal in this year's Liga -- five more than Raul -- to earn a 1-1 draw with arch-rivals Barcelona in El Clasico.