Ronaldo celebration a ´mark of respect´ to idol, not mockery – Townsend

Andros Townsend insists his goal celebration during Everton’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United was a mark of respect towards Cristiano Ronaldo, rather than mockery.

Townsend netted a second-half equaliser as the Toffees left Old Trafford with a well-earned point.

The winger rounded off a rapid counter by the visitors in the 65th minute, latching onto Abdoulaye Doucoure’s pass before drilling past David de Gea.

Townsend marked his strike with his own interpretation of the signature celebration performed by Ronaldo.

But the former Crystal Palace man says the celebration was simply a tribute to one of his idols.

5 – Andros Townsend has scored five goals in nine appearances in all competitions for Everton, as many as he scored in his final 79 matches for Crystal Palace. He has scored in three consecutive appearances for a Premier League club for the first time in his career. Rejuvenated. pic.twitter.com/2M6dQbNBD2

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 2, 2021

“Not imitating, it’s just a mark of respect to a guy who influenced my career,” he told BT Sport.

“I spent many hours on the training pitch and in the video room trying to analyse his free-kicks and his step-overs and the way he dedicated himself to football. 

“So, it wasn’t an imitation; it was a mark of respect to one of my idols. 

“I probably didn’t do the celebration justice and didn’t execute it properly!”

For Townsend, the equaliser marked his fifth goal in nine appearances since swapping Selhurst Park for Goodison Park, as many as he scored in his final 79 appearances for Palace.

It was his third consecutive goalscoring appearance in the Premier League, a career first for the former England winger.