James Lawton: Ronaldo and Tevez united in fury but a class apart

The two forwards were not happy men yesterday, but there the similarities end

(GETTY IMAGES)

It was odd that Cristiano Ronaldo, the supernova of Manchester United's defence of the Champions League and Premier League titles, and Carlos Tevez, the burrowing, often disregarded infantryman, should be linked so strongly in their rage on a day that was beginning to resemble another stroll in the park of football dreams.

The strangeness was in the high degree of their rawness at this time of the season when the ambitions of so many of their workmates are in ruins.

Ronaldo, the scorer of the first goal as he pushed United a stride closer to the Premier League title and strengthened his own hopes of retaining his world player of the year award against the challenge of Barcelona's Lionel Messi, snatched angrily at the proffered tracksuit top when he was hauled off after 58 minutes of near casual domination of Manchester City. He then spent the rest of the game smouldering in his touchline seat for the benefit of the TV cameras.

Sir Alex Ferguson grinned, shrugged his shoulders, and pointed out that while Ronaldo might have his own, highly personalised agenda, he had to plot United's sure-footed run home in the title race and the Champions' League final against Barça.

Ferguson was less philosophical about the Tevez tantrum, which came after the Argentine drove home splendidly a cross from Dimitar Berbatov. Tevez planted his feet in front of that stretch of the stand which includes Ferguson's vantage point and the directors' box and cupped his ears by way of asking if the cheers of the United fans had been heard.

Poor, misguided Tevez. He is a terrific battler and any club would value his services, worthy and whole-blooded as they are. But is he is worth £32m? Does he belong around the top of world football market rates? Hardly. And is Ferguson going to be swayed by a periodic burst of support for Tevez from the Old Trafford terraces? It is not so likely.

There was just a hint of the poignancy that lingers around the story of Marilyn Monroe returning from a tour of US forces in Korea and telling her husband, baseball star Joe DiMaggio, "Joe you never heard cheers like it." Joe sighed and said, "Yes, I did." Fergie must have nursed a similar reaction when gazing into the more rugged countenance of Tevez.

The Ronaldo issue is, of course, rather more complex. The Portuguese, it has become increasingly clear in the last few weeks, has indeed gathered himself together at the end of a season of indifference and serial petulance into an astonishingly consistent body of work. He was perfect in the crushing of Arsenal pretensions last week, and here yesterday he was merely masterful when he concentrated his mind.

But what did the initial rage and then constant head shaking say about his continued involvement in the United cause? Quite a lot, and none of it positive, you had to conclude. While Wayne Rooney seems to accept that his own huge talent is at the strategic disposal of his manager, Ronaldo seems to see only his own show and his own part.

Ferguson said he has vital games to play, a squad to handle. Ronaldo's body language said there was only one issue of significance, his exposure to his public and his chance to prosecute his own goals. It struck a hollow note on a day that so easily could have been assigned to the column of those in which United emerge as the Premier League team with the deepest resources and clearest idea of what it takes to win at the highest level.

Some optimists, whose number will always include Ferguson, may still believe the extraordinary talent of Ronaldo can be preserved for United.

In a perfect world it would be so. Ferguson saw the potential of Ronaldo, along with Arsène Wenger, but he beat the Arsenal manager to the draw and his prescience is rewarded every time Ronaldo proves, as he did last week, that in terms of natural gifts he doesn't have to bend the knee to anyone, even the little Caesar of Barça, Messi.

Unfortunately, Ronaldo doesn't live in a perfect world. He resides in his own, created partly by his own apparently inexorable virtuosity and the reluctance of anyone, including Ferguson, to attempt seriously to bring into it some of the restraints and the disciplines which would normally apply to any kind of professional sportsman attuned to the realities of the hardest competition.

Ronaldo's ability to survive in such a stratum is a tribute, more than anything, to his amazing talent and strength – qualities which you have to suspect Ferguson is resigned to losing at some point quite soon.

In the meantime, he will no doubt nurture the best of the man-child who is utterly crucial to the landing of still another Premier League title – and his third Champions League.

It is not an option that demands much deliberation. You cannot discard a Ronaldo because the price is simply too high. With him goes the ability to break open any challenge, so you hang on for as long as you can, taking the best and biting your lip at the rest.

Tevez? It is an entirely different question. A Tevez will always be discountable, especially when he stands on the touchline and cups his ears, an orphan wanting a guarantee for a permanent place at the feast. There was a moment when you had to ask who he thought he was. It couldn't be Ronaldo? Life couldn't be that cruel.