In a recent interview with Sky Sports, coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revisited the rationale behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s lack of success upon his return to Manchester United. Solskjaer disclosed that despite his initial belief in Ronaldo’s suitability, the acquisition turned out to be a misstep.
This isn’t the first instance of the former Manchester United head coach addressing this matter. Last September, he made similar comments, this time offering a more detailed analysis. Solskjaer explained, “While Ronaldo’s presence was not an issue when controlling the ball, his absence in pressuring opponents necessitated adjustments in the roles of other players from our usual approach. Manchester United was one of the highest pressing teams before Ronaldo’s arrival.”
“We let Daniel James leave when Ronaldo came. They are two different types of players. I believed it was the right decision at the time, but it turned out not to be,” added coach Solskjaer.
Ronaldo transferred to Manchester United in the 2021/22 season after leaving Juventus. Before his arrival, Manchester United were runners-up in the Premier League and Europa League. However, the team unexpectedly experienced a decline in form during Ronaldo’s tenure, leading to Solskjaer’s dismissal.
The Norwegian coach further remarked, “The leadership asked me if I wanted to try with the Ronaldo deal, and I agreed. We knew he was excellent, even at 37, he remains one of the best goal scorers in the world. Things didn’t work out for me and Ronaldo, but it was a rational decision at that time.”
“Ronaldo is different from Anthony Martial. We also had to consider how to utilize Mason Greenwood or Marcus Rashford upfront. Edinson Cavani was the player most affected by Ronaldo’s arrival.”
“Ronaldo wants to play three out of four games. He understands he’s aging, but if you leave him out for just one game, he won’t be happy.”
In the interview, Ole Solskjaer unveiled other darker aspects within the Old Trafford squad. The coach revealed that some members of the team consistently leaked internal information when dissatisfied.
Moreover, there were players who declined the opportunity to captain Manchester United directly, instead opting to relay their decisions through other team members. The Norwegian coach expressed his reliance on Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes in this regard.
Furthermore, Solskjaer felt that media pressure was excessively burdensome, causing players to dread interviews. “Many players are reluctant to attend pre-match press conferences. I have Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire always ready, Victor Lindelof, David De Gea, Luke Shaw have done it before. The rest often worry about the questions.”