If you’ve ever wondered if Cristiano Ronaldo is still a Manchester United problem, this article will provide you with an answer. Ronaldo’s problems at Manchester United don’t necessarily lie in his goalscoring, but rather in the lack of a team captain or leader. The key to solving that problem is not to over-value the player. Instead, focus on the qualities that he does have, and try to replicate his performance in his next team.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Manchester United problem
Last summer, Manchester United signed Ronaldo from Real Madrid, with the hope of rediscovering their glory days. Solskjaer landed second place in the Premier League, and Ronaldo joined alongside new signings such as Marcus Rashford and Raphael Varane. They were touted as potential league title contenders. But now, with Cristiano’s goal drought now at five games, they are struggling to qualify for the Champions League.
Despite the influx of new players, the current United side is struggling. They have won only two of their first 40 games this season, and lost all six of the 13 games Ronaldo started. United have also only kept two clean sheets all season, and are conceding nearly twice as many goals as they are scoring. Ronaldo’s arrival has created a problem for the Red Devils, and now they have to find a way to deal with the problems he brought with him.
While the return of Ronaldo was a surprise and an unforeseen move, he has brought goals to the Red Devils. But despite his contributions to the team, United’s midfield is woeful and the club should invest in two or three new players in this area. They need players who will protect the defence as well as supply the attack. With the influx of Ronaldo, United haven’t even managed to make the Champions League group stages this season.
Amid the turmoil, Manchester United are now facing the dilemma of whether to keep Ronaldo or sell him. With a year to run on his contract, the Portuguese star is a valuable asset to Manchester United, but his contract ends in 2023, which could mean the end of his career at Old Trafford. If Manchester United don’t get the right long-term manager, Ronaldo could be on his way out.
He’s a top goalscorer
Juventus and Real Madrid are both in the top four in terms of goals scored per season in Europe, but there are a few players who have scored more goals for their respective clubs than Ronaldo. He has tallied eight goals in the Premier League so far this season and can easily beat the record set by Josef Bican. But United fans aren’t the only ones who are impressed by the Portuguese striker.
It’s no secret that Ronaldo has a reputation as a prolific goalscorer, but the club have failed to make the most of him. Ronaldo has scored a staggering 32% of United’s Premier League goals so far. This is an incredible achievement considering his age and the lack of competition. Nevertheless, the team has yet to make a signing that can rival Ronaldo.
Despite his age, Ronaldo has continued to show his class and is now the leading goalscorer in European football. Ronaldo scored 14 goals for Manchester United this season, including six in the Champions League. In the same season, he has become the fifth Manchester United player to reach double figures. In 2021, he scored seven goals, but only one in two appearances this year. That means that he will finish the calendar year with fifteen goals.
A season in which he scored at least eight goals in every league game is a very good sign for the Portuguese star. Ronaldo has been a great player for United and has kept the club’s head above water in the Premier League. With the help of Ronaldo, United have been able to finish second in the league and qualify for the Champions League. So Ronaldo is still a top goalscorer at Manchester United, but it’s the goalkeeper who must score.
He’s not a leader
It’s no secret that many people have said that Cristiano Ronaldo is not a leader in Manchester United, but the truth is that the Brazilian star is still the most important player in the United squad and is a leader in his own right. His recent form has been impressive and his all-round game has clicked into gear. His link-up play is razor sharp and he is winning throw-ins and lunging tackles at the other end. Despite this, though, his lack of leadership is the biggest problem with United.
Ten Hag has stepped in as manager of Manchester United, and has praised Maguire for his leadership qualities. But even the new manager has also spoken of the need to retain Cristiano Ronaldo and will look to do so once he has settled in. The Englishman has also welcomed the arrival of new manager Erik ten Hag, who is a former Liverpool boss. The decision to keep Ronaldo will be a difficult one to make, but he has a chance to prove himself at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer’s first season as manager was a disaster for the club. He failed to make an impact on United’s performance and did not have a clear role in the team’s long-term future. However, he did manage to elevate Elanga, a hard-working forward with an intelligent game. In fact, Elanga helped to score the opening goal against Brentford, which opened the way for Mata and Ronaldo to score.
Some people say that Ronaldo is not a leader at Manchester, as he is a superstar but he is not a leader. His recent absence from the squad is another example of how Ronaldo’s lack of leadership does not lead to success. Manchester United’s current situation has become increasingly difficult to manage, and the Portuguese star is a huge distraction for the team. But it is also difficult to imagine a team without him.
He’s not a captain
After a poor run of form, the position of Harry Maguire as Manchester United captain has been put under serious question. However, in Maguire’s absence, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to captain the club, scoring 18 goals in 32 outings. The England captain is reportedly reluctant to relinquish the captaincy, but he has taken to social media to express his pride and future with the club.
While it would be nice to see the Portugal superstar honoured as the club’s captain, the situation is not so simple. Rangnick has rejected the idea of handing the armband to Ronaldo. This would be a temporary solution and would only help the Portuguese star temporarily. However, there are many other reasons to appoint Ronaldo as the permanent captain at Manchester United. Here are some of them.
While Ronaldo spent six years at Manchester United before moving on to Real Madrid, he made his name as a global star during his time at the club. If Ronaldo had become permanent captain of Manchester United, Wayne Rooney would have been “kicked off” because he would have been outvoted. But Rangnick believes Ronaldo’s experience has taught him that it’s not easy being a captain.
The Portuguese star has rejected Inter Miami’s interest in signing him last season. He also claimed that Beckham is ambitious and looking for the best players in the world. However, despite being in the United squad, Ronaldo’s future remains unclear. Nevertheless, he may be offered the captaincy by the club. But for now, he’s still wearing his Real Madrid shirt.
He’s a liability in midfield
One of the key reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo is a liability in the Manchester United midfield is because he is not a defensively responsible player. United defend with 10 men and Ronaldo’s lack of defensive responsibility allows Leicester to exploit the small space in the midfield. Ronaldo does not press the ball forward to put pressure on Leicester, instead he backs off, creating more gaps.
This is not a new problem for United. Back in the days of Owen Hargreaves, they dealt with this problem for years before the arrival of Ronaldo. Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs only started two games in the knockout stages of the Champions League and was unable to do much running. Clearly, they are not getting the most out of their midfield. However, there is a silver lining – Ronaldo’s price tag may be lower than his future value – so it’s still a logical option for the Red Devils.
Besides compromising the attacking quality of the midfield, Ronaldo also impedes Manchester United’s ability to adapt to different teams. He is the focal point for the team and hinders the team’s flexibility and adaptability to other teams. The Portuguese superstar’s presence has also made young players vulnerable to Ronaldo’s influence. Then again, United’s midfield is not a defensive strength, but an opportunity to exploit the midfield.
Regardless of the situation, there is no doubt that Solskjaer will not pick a team with Ronaldo as the No. 10. His other options are Juan Mata, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes. However, that would require a pile of injuries or suspensions to get rid of Ronaldo. Solskjaer can choose to play one of these options on the bench.
