Everton attacker Andros Townsend insists he wasn't seeking to wind-up Cristiano Ronaldo with his goal celebration in their 1-1 draw at Manchester United.
Townsend celebrated by imitating Ronaldo.
But he later said: "Not imitating, it's just a mark of respect to a guy who influenced my career. I spent many hours on the training pitch and in the video room trying to analyse his free-kicks and his stepovers 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."
On his five goals in nine games for Everton, Townsend continued: "I'm loving my football and I'm so happy to have the opportunity to play for Everton football club and to contribute and score goals. I've said many times in the past I should e scoring goals on a more consistent basis. For one reason or another I've never really done it over the course of the season. It's been a good start but I'm capable of much more.
On the mood in the dressing room, he added: "It's a difficult one because on the one hand we're delighted to come to Old Trafford and get a point with the injuries we had but we;re a little disappointed not to take all three."
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