Victory flame still rages for Ronaldo

Any FC Barcelona fans hoping Cristiano Ronaldo will go into Wednesday's UEFA Champions League final with diminished hunger ought to think again. The tricky Manchester United FC forward remains every bit as focused on winning silverware as he was ahead of last year's European triumph – and he does not care who balks at his relentless trophy focus.

Title defence
The Portuguese international headed United into the lead against compatriots Chelsea FC in Moscow last May and although he missed his spot-kick when the match went to penalties, he and his team-mates ultimately left the Russian capital with winners' medals draped around their necks. Ronaldo struck eight times in that campaign and while his tally for this season is merely half that amount, his two goals and imperious performance against Arsenal FC in the semi-final second leg spoke volumes. No team has ever successfully defended their UEFA Champions League title, yet the 24-year-old is adamant that reduced motivation levels will not be a factor as United attempt to make history in Rome.

'I'm a winner'
"I know I've won a lot but I'm the one who set the bar that high," he told uefa.com. "I'm a player with a lot of ambition and a strong character. I think that at a personal level, what's most important is me. No matter what others might think, I'll keep thinking like that. I'll continue doing the things I did in 2003, 2004, 2005, right up until now. So nothing will change in me – probably the opposite. My ambition will grow, to win at club level as well as at a personal level. Because the feeling from winning is good, I'm really a winner and therefore I'm going to want more [titles]."

Kindred spirits
No one can deny that the former Sporting Clube de Portugal player's winning mentality has long been cultivated at Old Trafford, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson the fount of that commitment to success in recent decades. Unsurprisingly, Ronaldo finds a kindred spirit in the Glasgow native as the duo set out to swell their trophy collections. "I came to the club because of him," he explained. "It's thanks to him that I'm here at the club. I've evolved with him and we've won many things together. I've learned a lot with him and I feel privileged to work with him – and the success that we have as players, he has too. That's been good for us and I hope to win more things with him."

Barcelona memories
With the Premier League title safely wrapped up following League Cup and FIFA Club World Cup wins earlier in the campaign, nothing will distract United between now and their meeting with Barcelona. The two teams met at the semi-final stage last year and despite coming out on top courtesy of a goalless draw in Spain and a 1-0 home win, those encounters left an enduring impression on Ronaldo. "The most difficult game was against Barcelona," he said of the Red Devils' successful European campaign. "Not to put the other teams down as it was a very difficult run, but I think that the most difficult game was against Barcelona – and clearly the final."

Power and technique
This year's showpiece ought to be no less fraught, though all the ingredients are present for a spectacular occasion as both sides boast a reputation for sparkling attacking play. In years gone by, any game between English and Spanish opposition would inevitably have been billed as a clash of footballing cultures, but thanks to cross-pollination, physical power and effortless technique are not mutually exclusive qualities in the modern game. "Both are important today; maybe more so in the past," noted Ronaldo. "Today you see that every team has strong players and physical levels are also quite important, or even very important, as they can help level the competition." United certainly have their fair share of physically dominant footballers – what they have in Ronaldo is a player blessed with the technical skills to punish the slightest Barcelona mistake.