Fergie lashes 'naive' Southgate in Ronaldo diving row

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (L) looks back as Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo falls down during their Premiership match at The Riverside on December 2. Sir Alex Ferguson has launched a passionate defence of Ronaldo's integrity after Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate accused the Portuguese winger of being a serial diver.

Sir Alex Ferguson has launched a passionate defence of Cristiano Ronaldo's integrity after Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate accused the Portuguese winger of being a serial diver.

Ronaldo won a controversial penalty in United's 2-1 Premiership win over Boro at the weekend with television pictures indicating that Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer had not made contact with the winger.

But Ferguson, speaking on the eve of United's Champions League showdown with Benfica, insisted the referee had made the right decision and claimed Ronaldo deserved greater protection from officials.

"I've looked at Saturday's penalty incident a million times," Ferguson said on Tuesday.

"Cristiano lost his balance completely and I think it was a penalty kick. The keeper tried to prevent him from scoring and in doing so Ronaldo lost his balance because of that.

"Gareth Southgate is very naive. He's just a young manager. We'll have to give him a chance to settle in.

"We don't condone diving and Cristiano is well aware of that. The first thing that happened to Cristiano on Saturday was that he was hacked from behind.

"The referee did not book the player which only encourages oppponents to keep on kicking him.

"He's the most fouled player in the country without question. All the statistics are there. What is more serious in our game? Preventing the best players from playing or going on for three days about a dive that wasn't a dive?"

Ronaldo, who will start against Benfica in a game which will see United exit the Champions League if they lose, also hit out at Southgate.

"Southgate stopped playing last year and in my opinion he should understand football much better.

"I was trying to pass the keeper, I lost balance and the referee gave a penalty."

Ronaldo insists that no one at United is thinking of anything other than victory over Benfica.

"I'm playing well and I'm in very good form. The team is in very good form. We are going out to win," he said.

Ferguson admitted he was finding it hard to come to terms with the fact his players have yet to qualify despite winning the first three group games.

United have lost their last two matches against Copenhagen and Celtic and must avoid defeat if they are to reach the last 16.

"Suddenly we are under real pressure because Benfica have the incentive of knowing that a win for them will take them through at our expense," he added.

"I can hardly believe it has come to this although it is absolutely no use bemoaning our position.

"I know we will go through, but why do my players take us all to the very edge so often?"