'Ronaldo will get a great reception' - Macari welcomes Cristiano's Champions League return to Manchester United

'Ronaldo will get a great reception' - Macari welcomes Cristiano's Champions League return to Manchester United

Dec 20, 2012 1:25:00 PM

The midfielder believes the Portuguese superstar will be met with a positive reaction when he faces his former club and their supporters, and has tipped the Red Devils for success

EXCLUSIVE
By Russell Stoddart

Lou Macari believes Cristiano Ronaldo will be the centre of attention when Real Madrid face Manchester United in the Champions League last 16, after the two giants were paired together in Thursday’s draw.

The two legs, which will be played on February 13 and March 5, represent the first time Ronaldo will face his ex-United team-mates since leaving in a world-record £80m deal in 2009.

Macari is excited at the prospect of Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford in the New Year and does not see any reason why the Old Trafford faithful should bear any grudge.

THE DRAW IN FULL

Galatasaray v FC Schalke

Celtic v Juventus

Arsenal v Bayern Munich

Shakhtar v Borussia Dortmund

AC Milan v Barcelona

Real Madrid v Manchester United

Valencia v Paris Saint-Germain

FC Porto v Malaga

ALL THE REACTION & TOP NEWS

Arsenal have nothing to fear - Hartson

Lennon: Celtic can beat Juventus

Real will fear Rooney and Van Persie

Bayern can beat Arsenal - Lahm

Van Nistelrooy torn after CL draw

Ronaldo's return a dream draw

The winners from the draw

Discussing Ronaldo's return with Goal.com, Macari said: "Not every former United player deserves and gets a good welcome back but I've no doubts that Ronaldo will get a great reception from United fans. I will be gobsmacked if anyone boos.

"What he did for United might be in the past, but his past is not long ago and his brilliance is still fresh in the memory.

"We are being told that two 'Special Ones' are returning to Old Trafford, but for United there is only one - Cristiano. He is held in such high esteem because he did such a brilliant job for us."

The Portuguese sensation was snapped up for a bargain price of around £12 million, and Macari was surprised and delighted at Ronaldo’s success with United.

He revealed: "When he joined the club we thought he was a good player, but that was it. In fact, he went on to improve beyond belief and by the time he left he was arguably the best in the world.

"We all knew he was a Real Madrid fan as a boy and he wanted to join them, which was understandable, but since he left he has never said a bad word about the club and the fans don't forget that.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't celebrate if he scores against United, or have a muted celebration at the very least. There is a lot of mutual respect between the fans and the player."

Real Madrid come into the game as slight favourites given their pedigree in this competition and wide array of attacking talents, but Macari feels the tie may be tighter than some expect.

He added: "I don't think the bookmakers can separate them. If United play well and have a bit of luck then they can certainly go through.

"Having the second leg at home is a big bonus. They will know what they have got to do and have a noisy home support behind them. It will be another special European night at Old Trafford whatever happens."

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

Make Your Prediction

Real Sociedad

Real Madrid CF

Prediction Submitted

Most Popular Predictions

Real Sociedad 0-8 Real Madrid CF
11.12 %

odds: 351.00 Bet Now!

odds: 501.00 Bet Now!
Real Sociedad 1-3 Real Madrid CF
9.84 %

odds: 20.00 Bet Now!

odds: 17.00 Bet Now!

odds: 15.00 Bet Now!

odds: 17.00 Bet Now!
Real Sociedad 2-1 Real Madrid CF
7.64 %

odds: 11.50 Bet Now!

odds: 9.50 Bet Now!

odds: 9.50 Bet Now!

odds: 10.00 Bet Now!

play

open

Live!

Champions League final - LIVE!

German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.

5:07 PM BST

Klopp, of course, is the new darling of the football media. It’s pretty damn impossible not to love a man who speaks so passionately - and amusingly - about the game. This week alone he admitted that so distraught was he by the news of Gotze’s imminent departure for Bayern, whom he views as the villain in a James Bond movie, that he had to cancel plans with his wife to attend a movie premiere because he didn’t want to have to talk to anyone. Seriously, how could any real football fan not be a 'Klopptomist'?!

5:03 PM BST

We’re still awaiting the confirmed line-ups but if you’re looking for the likely starting 11s, let me point you in the direction of our match preview. Also, if you want an excellent and entertaining analysis of tonight’s fascinating final, well, how does a James Richardson-hosted debate involving Jonathan Wilson and Paulo Sousa tickle your fancy? The prince of puns, a true titan of tactical thinking and a two-time Champions League winner - a veritable dream team, I think you'll agree.

4:59 PM BST

The injury-enforced absence of Dortmund’s Bayern-bound playmaker, Gotze, is of course the principal talking point in terms of team news. The 20-year-old’s unavailability is clearly a hammer blow for die Schwarzgelben, but, as team-mate Kevin Grosskreutz pointed out this week, Dortmund destroyed Bayern in last year’s DFB Pokal final without Gotze.

4:54 PM BST

But what do the fans think? Well, yesterday Goal’s roving reporter Kris Voakes went along to the Uefa Champions Festival, which is being staged at the Olympic Park in Stretford, and he spoke with supporters from both sides.

Johannes, Munich, told Goal: "We haven't lost to Dortmund this season, and though we lost two finals [in 2010 and 2012], we are hoping the third time is a charm.

"Last year the English stole our trophy," interrupted his friend Benjamin, "but we are going to take in back to Munich where it belongs."

But Dortmund fan Nicolas says the loss of Mario Gotze to injury is not too much of a concern for Jurgen Klopp's side: “We have Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski, and yes, we will be fine without Gotze. We will win 2-0.”

4:44 PM BST

However, Dortmund simply cannot be discounted. They relish the role of underdogs and are not in the least bit afraid of their illustrious rivals, having now gone six Bundesliga games without defeat against die Roten. The last time these two met in a final, in last season’s DFB Pokal, Dortmund ran out 5-2 winners. As coach Jurgen Klopp pointed out this week: “We’re not the best team in the world, but we can beat the best team in the world."

Inside Goal.Com

Champions League Final Preview: Dortmund - Bayern
Jurgen Klopp's side will be eager for vengeance after watching their Bundesliga title slip into the hands of the Bavarian giants this term
The Dossier: Stop Martinez, stop Bayern
With the Mario Gotze missing through injury, Marco Reus will be charged with the task of stopping Javi Martinez from dictating proceedings in the middle of the park
'Mario, you will never redeem yourself'
Mario Gotze's injury means the playmaker has now played his final game for Borussia Dortmund. In an open letter, a fan tells of his emotion at his controversial switch to Bayern
BVB's rise from the abyss to European contenders
BVB have recovered from teetering on the edge of bankruptcy to take their place on Europe's grandest stage, humbling their opponents on Saturday, Bayern Munich, along the way
Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers
As the competition moves within days of its much-anticipated conclusion at Wembley, Goal profiles the most prolific players in its history

Goal.com