Sir Alex Ferguson issues rare public criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo

Sir Alex Ferguson has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo, chastising his behaviour in recent matches and telling the Manchester United winger: "You can't get everything your own way."

Ronaldo was an instrumental figure for United last season, scoring 42 goals as Ferguson's side clinched the Premier League and Champions League double and although the Portugal international remains United's leading goalscorer with 19 goals this campaign, his influence has waned this campaign.

Ronaldo has increasingly shown signs of frustration at his perceived rough treatment at the hands of opposition defenders and, after being guilty of giving the ball away in the lead-up to goals for Aston Villa and Porto last week, was dropped to the substitute's bench for Manchester United's 2-1 win at Sunderland yesterday. Ferguson also issued a rare public condemnation.

"I don't accept that he will give goals away because of the player he is," said Ferguson. "I speak to him about it. I don't accept that from anyone. In European football, if you give the ball away it takes a long time to get it back."

Ferguson said that Ronaldo had grown tired of some players trying everything they could to stop him, but the United manager believes that the World Player of the Year is allowing frustration to get the run of him.

"He always feels he's not getting the proper protection from referees and I think that, maybe, in quite a few cases he is right, and a few cases he is not right," said Ferguson. "It's hard when a player who wants to entertain doesn't get everything his own way. But you can't get everything your own way. He understands that and there's not a problem with that."

Ferguson, who brought Ronaldo on midway through the second half of his side's victory at the Stadium of Light, will hope that his rebuke gets the desired reaction from the 24-year-old – who has been linked with a £75m summer move to Real Madrid – at Porto on Wednesday, where United must become the first English side to win at the Estadio do Dragao if they are to stay in the Champions League.

"It's just a frustration that he feels he doesn't get the decision and he gets upset about it," added Ferguson. "I think, obviously, he doesn't enjoy that and he knows he's letting himself down more than anything. He holds his hands up. I have had to remind him about that but I'm not getting into what has been said."