Cristiano-Ronaldo-Player

Cristiano Ronaldo is officially professional football’s all-time leading goalscorer. He may well be the greatest striker, or player of any role, Albion have ever faced in their 121-year history. True, they have made a few lesser-known strikers look like CR7 at times. Gary Hooper of Scunthorpe United one Saturday afternoon at Withdean, springs to mind. But the real thing might be in Falmer this weekend. And Graham Potter is quite prepared to underline the challenge that will provide his team. United were second best at Old Trafford earlier this season until Ronaldo provided a high quality finish to put them ahead against the Seagulls. Yes, there was some effective pressing too as they won possession attacking the Stretford End. But, once Yves Bissouma had been ambushed just outside his own penalty area, there was still plenty to do before the ball hit Robert Sanchez’s net. Often, when a manager is asked in the run-up to a match about the quality of an individual in the opposing team, he will say there are multiple threats. It is not all about one man. While that is also the case to a degree with United, and Potter certainly was not under-rating any of them, one man stands alone in terms of track record and what he is still doing on the big stage. Potter said: “I have been so impressed with him. “How he has played, how he has helped his team, scoring and assisting goals. “You can see how his game has developed from wide to centrally and how that has helped him. “He’s not getting any younger but you still retain your brain, your standing in football and his finishing is as clinical as you will get. “It’s a great experience for our players. “Hopefully he doesn’t have as good an experience at the Amex this Saturday.” There has some suggestion Ronaldo was feeling his groin or a hamstring late in the win over Brentford on Monday. By that stage, he had proved influential in a game the Bees started well. Just as he turned the game against Albion. Potter said: “It was a strange one. I thought we probably shaded the first half. “We did well and it was quite even. “Then pretty quickly in the second half the game got away from us and you could see the first goal, Ronaldo punished us like Ronaldo can. “That’s the learning experience from that game because regardless of what you say about United’s season, they’ve still got some fantastic players who can hurt you in a second.” Albion have seen off some big names, of course, with recent wins in north London. Asked what those games had given his side, Potter said: “Hopefully just the process and journey we have been on. “You learn all the time, gain belief and trust. “In my experience of coaching, the longer together you are, the better understanding you have of each other. “Winning football matches gives everyone a better feeling. “We are in a good place, as you can imagine after the Wolves performance, which was a strong one. “So train well this week and looking forward to the game but we know we have to start again and it’s a tough team coming to the Amex and we need to play well.” Albion have faced some of the great strikers in their years at the Amex. Sergio Aguero in their first Premier League match. Harry Kane, Luis Suarez, Mo Salah. Back in the previous top-tier era, they were 2-0 up and in command against Liverpool in a midweek game at the Goldstone when Ian Rush pulled a goal back. Everyone knew Liverpool never lost when Rush scored and he duly added the inevitable second to force a 2-2 draw. Rush was the greatest goal-getter of his era in his league. The numbers say Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest goal-getter of any era in any league. That’s the challenge if he walks out at the Amex. It is one for players and fans to embrace.