AS.com

Cristiano Ronaldo appears in the latest issue of UEFA's Champions magazine and the player spoke about next week's Champions Leaguer tie with Manchester United - a meeting which will be significant for him as it will be his first encounter with his ex-club since he joined Real Madrid.

"I believe things will go well. In my opinion Real Madrid have a better team, although we have to show that on the pitch because United are a very united team and always have been in recent years", said Cristiano, who is celebrating his 28th birthday today.

It's a game which the player is relishing. "I just knew that we would draw Manchester United", he added. "It will be a match in which I will feel a lot. I was there for six years and I have a lot of friends. It will be a match with a lot of emotion".

Cristiano didn't hide his admiration for Sir Alex Ferguson, the coach who brought him to Old Trafford when he was still just an 18 year old, saying, "Sir Alex taught me the basis of football. I arrived in Manchester when I was only 18. He managed my career in the best possible way, and for me he is one of the most important people in football. I still have an excellent relationship with him and it will be nice to see him again".