HODGSON WILDEST DREAM IS RON AXED

ROY HODGSON waded philosophically into the debate that has split football for 15 years – and chose Oscar Wilde ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The former England coach takes relegation-haunted Watford to Old

Trafford hoping Ronaldo (above) has an “off-day” or, better still, that Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick leaves him out altogether.

But when asked whether he would pick CR7 (five Ballon d’or awards) or Messi (seven) as the finest player this century, Hodgson (below) replied: “Oscar Wilde – all comparisons are odious. Wilde came up with a few good lines and that’s one of my favourites.

“They are both great, great players. They are different, but I would quite like to have both of them in my team.”

Hodgson took seven points from his last three trips to the Theatre of Dreams with Crystal Palace, and Watford thrashed United 4-1 in November, hastening the axe for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

But the Hornets boss does not believe either of those portents will work in his side’s favour this time - and nor will Ronaldo’s lean spell of one goal in his last nine appearances. Hodgson said: “I’m a great believer in the Swedish mantra or maxim which translates into English as, ‘What has been, has gone’.

“I haven’t been following Manchester United as closely as some, so I don’t know how many off-days he’s had – what I do know is he’s one of the world’s greatest players and he will always be in that group, certainly in my lifetime.

“I don’t know about his off-days, but he’s very welcome to have one – and if

Ralf wants, he’s welcome to leave him out of the team. I wouldn’t mind one bit.

“If our players don’t understand that this is a great opportunity, to walk out in front of 75,000 people in one of the temples of football, it will never happen.

“It’s a nice feeling to win at Old Trafford, but there’s no magic I can transfer from those games to help Watford.”