Ronaldo won't let success go to his head, says Ferguson

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo can handle all the accolades coming his way, manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.

Ronaldo has scored 37 goals this season, is the Premier League's leading goalscorer and has been nominated for a second successive player-of-the-year award by the Professional Footballers Association.

Ferguson said the 23-year-old Portugal international could take all the praise in his stride and maintain his focus to help United's pursuit of the Premier League and Champions League.

"It doesn't affect him to be honest," Ferguson told reporters. "I don't see any signs that it does. I think the boy is intelligent enough and sensible enough to realise what football is about.

"Success can affect people. You see it time and time again but the great quality is to keep your humility and your feet on the ground. "Yes he will go and express himself in a way that is extravagant at times but that's a measure of his courage and ability which we never attempt to stop him doing because we want players to go on the stage at Old Trafford and express themselves in a big, big way."

Former United favourite Eric Cantona was the latest to laud Ronaldo, telling the Manchester Evening News: "Cristiano Ronaldo has skills which no other player has. He is the best player in the world. "I am happy he is wearing my shirt (number seven). It was special for me, I hope it is special for him too."

Ronaldo will return to the United side for Sunday's game against Arsenal at Old Trafford after being rested for their mid-week Champions League win over AS Roma. While United can look forward to a semi-final against Barcelona, Arsenal must try and lift themselves from their shattering European exit against Liverpool.

"It's hard to recover from these things," said Ferguson.

"But we have got to look at ourselves and make sure we keep motoring. "Every game is a must-win now. We dropped two points last week and we need to win our games, as simple as that."

With Chelsea not playing until Monday, United could restore their six-point advantage at the top of the table with a win that would end any lingering hopes Arsenal have of winning the title. Arsenal are three points behind Chelsea in third. United will again be without defender Nemanja Vidic and winger Nani but Ferguson expects both to be fit to play next weekend.