Cristiano Ronaldo: I'll Shut the Critics up

Cristiano Ronaldo has hit back at criticism he's received since his return to Manchester United.

In the first few weeks of his second stint in England, the Portuguese star has been criticised for not working hard enough defensively for his team, but he has wasted no time in defending himself.

"I know when the team needs my help defensively," Ronaldo told Sky Sports.

"But, my role in the club is to win, help the team to win and to score goals. [The defensive side] is part of my job.

"The people who don't want to see that is because they don't like me, but, to be honest, I'm 36 and I've won everything so am I going to be worried about the people who say bad things about me? I sleep good at night.

"I go to my bed with my conscience very good. Keep going with that because I will still close mouths and win things."

He does, however, realise that criticism is part of the job when you're a top player.

"Criticism is always part of the business," he added.

"I'm not worried about that. And I see it as a good thing, to be honest.

"If they worry about me or they speak about me, it's because they know my potential and value in football still. So, it's good.

"I'll give you an example. If you're in a school and you're the best student, you ask the worst student if he likes the best and they'll say they don't like him."