MATCH QUOTES

Last updated : 20 March 2007 By Editor

Ferguson:

"I don't know what they're going on about, Jesus God.

"It's because it's Ronaldo.

"There's been a stigma attached to the boy which is not deserved. He's a great player, a fantastic player, a phenomenal player.

"It is a shame. They are putting a stigma against the boy that he doesn't deserve.

"We have had some great players at this club in my 20 years here and Cristiano is up there with the best of them. He is phenomenal.

"But there's a guilt complex there. He had nine fouls against him in the first game, when he didn't have any protection at all. I hear people saying it wasn't a penalty, but it was clear."

About Ronaldo's Sky interview (below):

"I thought the interviewer was disgraceful, hoping the boy would slip up - but he was magnificent and they don't realise how intelligent he is. It was a poor interview and Sky should have a look at themselves"

And on the game:

"I was thinking extra time tonight I have to say. A big part of the FA Cup is luck but we were attacking all the time and deserved it.

"In the first game Ronaldo had 9 fouls against him. You need strong refs in these games and we didn't get that in the first game, and tonight they had all those bookings and the sending off"

The prospect of a party like 1999:

"5.30 kick off? Deary me, why don't they make it Saturday 11pm!"

"We're glad to be there. In the FA Cup we've had four Premiership teams in the run and two replays, it tells you we want to get there. The players' desire and ambition and the resolve they've shown is fantastic. I'm proud of them, I really am. It is a great feeling. We don't know where we're going, you hope you get the bit of luck you need. In 1999 we had everyone fit. At this moment we don't have everyone fit, but hopefully by that time we're getting nearer to a full squad."

Praise for Heinze:

"Heinze was magnificent tonight. That's his best performance of the season I think. I think the number of games has helped him. Gaby's needed a run of games and in the last few games he's been absolutely brilliant."


Ronaldo:

"Maybe some people don't like me, but maybe that's because I'm too good.

"For me it's a penalty.

"Why when Cristiano is involved is it always polemic? You need to see it on the television. I felt the contact. This is why I went down. He touched me.

"Yeah, but if you touch me I lose my movement and that is why I go down. Because he kicked me. Why does controversy follow me? I don't know. For me, it's a penalty. Maybe someone doesn't like, maybe because I'm too good. I don't know."

More:

"We'll go to the semi-finals and I'm happy.

"When you play Watford - and these are all difficult games - if you have a good team then you have a good chance to get to the final.

"I feel confident. I'm in good form and the team is very good too."


Smith:

"It's lovely to be back. You want to play with the best players and at Manchester United I've got the opportunity to do that. There's been a lot of speculation about my future but that's never been in doubt between me and the club. Hopefully typical performance for me, working hard, putting myself about. There's been times I've played and I wasn't ready. I know that.

"The Gaffers been brilliant, giving me time. If I'd have been bought back early I would have suffered. It's been refreshing to be giving time and tonight was a great occasion for me. I had a big smile on my face I can tell you that. I wear my heart on my sleeve and the lads have been incredible and the possibility of winnings things - I want to be part of that. Hopefully I can do that - stand up for this team when it's needed - more.

"It's a game I've been looking forward to this game so much. Sometimes when you've been out it's difficult but you've just got to go for it. We're getting players back from injuries and we've got a squad here that is all together (for each other)."


'Naive young manager' Gareth Southgate:

About the penalty:

"The referee felt it was and he gave it, end of story.

"Ronaldo is a fantastic player and is very, very good at what he does."

Again about the penalty:

"I've seen it a couple of times and I'm still not sure. The galling thing is that we've played them three times and we've conceded three penalties, and they all might not have been given."

On the sending off:

"Everybody in the heat of the moment is entitled to a reaction.

"In the cold light of day you can think logically about things. In the 85th minute of an FA Cup tie, though, things looks different.

"We're inexperienced on the bench, as we keep being told. There's inexperience on the field, too and we did lose our discipline in the last five minutes and that's unacceptable. But we'll learn from it in the future.

"As for James [Morrison], in that situation, we'd all be tempted to lash out when a guy's doing tricks like that. I'm not complaining - part of Ronaldo's game is to do these tricks and things - but he's a young kid. You've got to be mature enough to hold your ground. But there were some fantastic performances from my team out there. We pushed the best team in the country all the way, to the wire and they'll respect us for that."