“You didn’t want to be embarrassed" - Former PL star on his battles with Cristiano Ronaldo during his first Manchester United stint

Former Sunderland and Manchester United full-back Phil Bardsley has admitted that he enjoyed playing against elite players like Cristiano Ronaldo. However, he always wanted to ensure that he never got embarrassed on the pitch against a tricky winger.

Recalling the battles between Ronaldo and Ashley Cole, Bardsley stated that it was what he aspired to have against the former Manchester United star. When asked if he felt he got the better of Ronaldo, he said on talkSPORT:

"Probably not but he was always aware that I was there and I was playing against him. I always believed I played better against the better players. I'm not saying we won those games but I always felt against better players that I had something to prove. You didn't want to be embarrassed. You used to see the battles between Ronaldo and Ashley Cole. Back and forth, neither of them were giving in. As a player you want to go out there and do your best."

Phil Bardsley faced Cristiano Ronaldo just twice in his career. He played 88 minutes in his two games, and was on the losing side on both occasions.

Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't Phil Bardsley's toughest opponent

Despite talking highly of Cristiano Ronaldo, Phil Bardsley stated that the former Manchester United star was not his toughest opponent. He namedropped Eden Hazard among the best but picked former Everton forward Steven Pienaar as his toughest opponent. He said:

"What I did miss towards the end of my career was playing against out and out left wingers. Obviously the game changed and formations changed and typically, when I first started playing probably towards halfway through my career, you were up against a rigid 4-4-2 and you were up against a left winger. And that changed with Steven Pienaar at Everton and Leighton Baines down the left hand side. People talk about opponents, but Pienaar was one of the hardest opponents I've ever had."

He added:

"He'd just drag you into places. He was, like, a No.10 playing in off the left. He'd drag you into places where you think 'should I go tight, should have stayed in a position'. People like Pienaar and [Eden] Hazard. But I do miss them old school battles with an out and out left winger and a full back."

Cristiano Ronaldo is still playing in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr. Phil Bardsley retired after playing for Stockport County in 2023.