Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson isn't looking to point fingers at opposition defenders over their treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Journalists at the pre-match press conference in Spain pushed Sir Alex on whether he thinks treatment of the 23-year-old is getting worse, citing ankle straps as a potential indication of the need to protect.

"A lot of players wear bandages on their ankles," the Reds boss responded. "It's maybe changed over the last few years. Maybe today people look for more strength to the ankles. I wouldn't have worn them in my day. But he got a lot of knocks to his ankles on Saturday. There were a few cuts and bruises, but it's nothing serious."