Ashley Cole was Cristiano Ronaldo’s most troublesome opponent – the pair handled followers to epic battles.
That is the view of Arsenal legend Martin Keown, who believes the Manchester United icon developed a fixation on his ex-teammate.
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Whereas Ronaldo is now a longtime striker, he was a difficult proper winger throughout his first spell at United within the Premier League – which noticed him immediately go up towards left-back Cole.
The duo confronted one another 14 instances in all competitions throughout membership and nation, with Ronaldo popping out on prime on eight events.
4 of their conferences got here when Cole performed in Arsenal’s colors – with the Hale Finish graduate successful as soon as – whereas an extra eight got here throughout his time at Chelsea.
With the Blues, he misplaced 5 of his encounters, and his luck did not fare a lot better throughout England’s back-to-back conferences with Portugal in main competitions.
READ MORE ON CRISTIANO RONALDO
Portugal twice emerged victorious on penalties at Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006.
However from their many clashes collectively, Ronaldo scored on simply three events – with two coming in the identical match within the Pink Devils’ 4-2 win towards the Gunners at Highbury in February 2005.
Ronaldo and Cole first met through the notorious Battle of Previous Trafford in September 2003, the place within the fifth minute, the ahead left the defender with egg on his face.
A rapid-fire ability transfer utterly bamboozled Cole – sending him tumbling to the ground after performing the ‘splits’.
It is a second that lives lengthy within the reminiscence of United followers, however regardless of that, Keown insists Cole proved to be a greater than worthy adversary for Ronaldo within the years that adopted.
Keown, who performed in that 0-0 attract 2003/04 season, instructed talkSPORT.com: “I believe they had been epic battles.
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“I believe if there was a nemesis for him or his most troublesome opponent, it must be Ash.
“It was unbelievable the way in which that Ashley would all the time… it was virtually a double dedication from him at any time when he performed towards Ronaldo.”
Keown then acknowledged that went each methods, insisting Ronaldo can be too targeted on his battle with Cole, which can have been to the detriment of United.
He remarked: “And it was virtually like Ronaldo bought fixated with making an attempt to beat him as a substitute of truly switching out and perhaps going to the opposite [side].
“However perhaps he felt as if he would not get something from [right-back] Lauren both!
“However it was an amazing battle, one thing to behold, a recreation inside a recreation virtually.”
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Ronaldo himself admitted that Cole was his toughest-ever opponent throughout an interview with Coach Magazine in 2016.
He remarked: “Through the years I had some nice battles with Ashley Cole. He doesn’t provide you with a second to breathe.
“He was such a tenacious participant when he was at his peak, fast, powerful within the deal with. You knew it will by no means be a simple recreation.”
As for Cole, he opened up on his clashes together with his former foe following his induction into the Premier League Corridor of Fame in 2024 – insisting he nonetheless has nightmares over being humiliated of their first assembly.
The 44-year-old mentioned: “Through the years, Cristiano Ronaldo and I had some mighty battles and now we have a mutual respect for one another.
“He got here to the Premier League as somewhat little bit of an unknown, however he quickly understood what it took to be a prime participant.
“He was prepared to be taught and adapt. He wished to be the perfect participant on the planet and have become a machine.
“He had every little thing. He may dribble, he may dash behind, he may leap and bounce and head a ball, he may go inside, he may go exterior.
“So I say he all the time gave me nightmares, however you attempt to work one another out and we bought the perfect of one another at instances.
“Each time I hear his title or see his face, I all the time consider when he made me do the splits!”
However for Cole, it is Ronaldo’s long-time rival Lionel Messi that he named as his hardest opponent – regardless of the 2018 World Cup winner failing to attain towards him.
