Townsend on copying Cristiano Ronaldo's celebration: I got a bit carried away

When Andros Townsend equalised for Everton against Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend, the most appropriate thing to do seemed to be to copy Cristiano Ronaldo's trademark celebration.

The 30-year-old later revealed it had been planned, even if he did get a bit carried away.

"We were discussing it on the coach the day before on the way up to Manchester. The boys were saying, 'Would you do it if you scored?'" Townsend told talkSPORT.

"I said yeah, but the one thing they said was make sure you are winning or it is late in the game, so [that] Ronaldo doesn't have a chance to reply.

"I got a bit carried away, almost buckled and fell on my back. I looked up at the clock and it was 65 minutes. I gave the greatest player half an hour to make me look silly and score the winner. Thankfully he didn't."

Cristiano Ronaldo's shirt

The English winger also explained he has nothing but respect for Ronaldo and he was desperate to get his shirt after the game, with the Portugal star agreeing to do so off the pitch.

"I made it my goal that I was not leaving Old Trafford without Cristiano Ronaldo's shirt. You saw after the final whistle, I ran straight to him, I don't know what he was muttering but it wasn't English," said Townsend.

"He was muttering in Portuguese and I asked him three or four times for his shirt and eventually he gave in and said he would give it to me inside.

"I had to wait inside the dressing room and thankfully the kit man was able to sort it for me. That shirt I am going to keep with me [forever]."

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and so it was for Townsend at Old Trafford, even if he was mighty relieved that his boldness didn't backfire.