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Tag: Ronaldo

  • What Man Utd players think of Ronaldo return – Lindelof

    What Man Utd players think of Ronaldo return – Lindelof

    Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof says Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival was welcomed by the players.

    Ronaldo joined United in August from Juventus and despite the team’s struggles, the 36 year-old has shone in attack.

    “Not much has changed. Of course, we have brought in a world-class player who contributes a lot both on and off the field. I just think it’s been nice to have him there. He is a good person who helps a lot and tries to support the younger players,” Lindelof told Fotbollskanalen.

    “We have a very good team with good players, so it is clear that we are expected to do well. But sometimes it happens in football. You have a worse period and we as a team have not performed at the level we want and then the results have not come either. Nobody is happy with it, but it is up to us to change it and everyone works hard to get better results.”

  • Agent rejects claims of Ronaldo spying Man Utd exit

    Agent rejects claims of Ronaldo spying Man Utd exit

    Portuguese agent Paulo Barbosa has rejected reports of Cristiano Ronaldo seeking to leave Manchester United if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.

    It’s been claimed Ronaldo will seek to quit United if they do not finish in the top four.

    But Barbosa told Sport-Express: “I don’t think this is possible. Now is just the beginning of the season. It turns out that he will leave if there are no results. Maybe he needs to fight so that they are just there?

    “Even if there is such an assumption, it is not very motivating for other players. I doubt he thinks about it. It’s fake. There are many other competitions, including the Champions League. I think the Daily Express made an assumption that is not true. Even if he thinks so, he will not publicly say such things.”

  • Solskjaer should bench Ronaldo at Man Utd – Ikpeba

    Solskjaer should bench Ronaldo at Man Utd – Ikpeba

    Former Super Eagles player, Victor Ikpeba has described Cristiano Ronaldo as ‘a minus one’ for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United team.

    The former Nigerian striker went ahead to advise Solskjaer to drop the Portuguese superstar on the bench.

    Manchester United’s last game before the International break was a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City and Ikpeba also questioned the tactics deployed by Solskjaer.

    The former African Footballer of the Year questioned the contribution of Ronaldo to the team despite the Portugal International scoring 9 goals in 12 appearances this term.

    Ikpeba blamed United attackers for the defeat to Man City, saying they failed to play a high-pressing game whereas the City players defended as a unit.

    The Monaco ex-winger noted that Ronaldo has excellent goal-scoring pedigree but contributes little or nothing to the Red Devils team.

    “The great managers come from the ability to get the best from your players, but if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not getting the best from these players, I feel some of the Manchester United players up front are very lazy,” Ikpeba told SuperSport’s Monday Night Football.

    “I want us to look at the game against Man City, how Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva pressed. They did not allow the defenders to start the build-up from the defence, why can’t Man Utd players do the same?

    “We saw what Crystal Palace did to Manchester City, they defended very well.

    “I always say Ronaldo is minus one for Manchester United. He can score beautiful goals, he cannot defend.

    “When you look at the opposition, they defend as a team, they attack as a team, they know when to play the pressing game.

    “Solskjaer has to be ruthless. I want to say put Ronaldo on the bench when he is not performing well. “

  • Ronaldo makes final decision on Man Utd future

    Ronaldo makes final decision on Man Utd future

    Cristiano Ronaldo wants to make Manchester his permanent home, as he plans for life after football, SunSport reports.

    The 36-year-old made a sensational return to Old Trafford this summer.

    Since then, Ronaldo has scored nine times in 11 matches and become a key figure in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.

    The Portugal captain has settled quickly into life back in England and is expecting twins with his partner Georgina Rodriguez.

    Ronaldo is now planning to retire at United and now it appears the UK could be his long-term home as he plans for life beyond playing football.

    There is also a suggestion that he could indeed take up the option of the third year in the contract he signed with United in the summer, having initially pencilled a two-year deal that included several clauses.

    “Cristiano has lived all over the world, but England has always held a special place in his heart. He loves the northwest and is looking to find a permanent base that he can call home after he retires from the game.

    “Cristiano still believes he has at least two or three more years left playing, but he always has one eye on the future,” a source said.

  • Ronaldo late volley rescues point for Man Utd against Atalanta

    Ronaldo late volley rescues point for Man Utd against Atalanta

    Cristiano Ronaldo was once again Manchester United’s saviour as the Portuguese superstar scored two equalisers in a 2-2 draw with Atalanta on Tuesday.

    The 36-year-old fired in a superb volley in stoppage time after equalising for United on the stroke of half-time.

    The result came just a fortnight after United fought back from 2-0 to beat Atalanta 3-2 at Old Trafford.

    And the Italians once again took up early supremacy against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, going ahead after 12 minutes through Josip Iličić.

    Duvan Zapata found the Slovenia international unmarked at the back post to break the deadlock.

    Ronaldo got United back in it after a sumptuous team move, which saw Fernandes backheel to his compatriot before he fired past Juan Musso.

    However, United failed to learn their lesson in the second half as they went behind again when Zapata scored after 56 minutes.

    Atalanta thought they had won it until Ronaldo fired in a world-class volley into the bottom corner from outside the box to clinch a point for the visitors.

    The Red Devils remain top of Group F on equal points with Villarreal.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo was Juventus scapegoat – Evra

    Cristiano Ronaldo was Juventus scapegoat – Evra

    Cristiano Ronaldo was made a “scapegoat” for Juventus’ shortcomings during his tenure at the club, according to Patrice Evra.

    Following three successful years in Turin with two Scudetto crowns, two Serie A Footballer of the Year titles during his time in Italy, Ronaldo found himself cast as the villain in his final term – a role Evra says was “ridiculous” for the striker.

    “Cristiano needs love and respect,” Evra told La Repubblica. “Instead, at Juve, he was becoming the scapegoat.

    “The criticisms in Italy have been ridiculous and a bit hypocritical. [It was a] mistake when [Massimiliano] Allegri said: ‘Cristiano will not play all the games’. There is no need to say things in public. In any case, Cristiano’s only true love is Manchester United.”

  • I don’t want Ronaldo to get red card – Klopp

    I don’t want Ronaldo to get red card – Klopp

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has questioned how Crisitiano Ronaldo escaped a red card during victory at Manchester United.

    After the 5-0 win, Klopp initially thought Ronaldo’s challenge on Curtis Jones at the end of the first half warranted a red card but had been persuaded otherwise by people who had seen television replays.

    The United forward sent the midfielder tumbling to the floor with a wild swing of his right leg and then, with his frustration boiling over, he took a couple of swings at the ball which was positioned against his grounded opponent’s midriff.

    “I saw it, of course, and it looked like a red card but I got told he hits the ball or didn’t hear the whistle,” Klopp said.

    “I don’t want Cristiano getting a red card. For me it looked like (a red) but I got told it was not and that’s fine.”

  • EPL: Cristiano Ronaldo superior to Salah – Solskjaer

    EPL: Cristiano Ronaldo superior to Salah – Solskjaer

    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists Cristiano Ronaldo is a superior striker to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

    The pair will face-off on Sunday at Old Trafford.

    Solskjaer offered his thoughts on the Salah-Ronaldo comparisons.

    “I will always back Cristiano Ronaldo in any competition,” he said. “His goal-scoring record is fantastic. That said, Mohamed Salah is on fire.

    “We have to be at our best to defend against him. We have to do a good job, not just against him.

    “I am a big admirer of their frontline. They’re players you have to be nailed on for 95 minutes against to keep a clean sheet.

    “Liverpool are one of the teams we’ve been trying to catch over the last four years. We have to improve to get up to their level of the last four years.”

  • How Ronaldo convinced me to drop retirement plans – Alves

    How Ronaldo convinced me to drop retirement plans – Alves

    Bruno Alves admits he was talked out of retirement this season by Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

    After being cut loose by Famaliacao, the veteran defender admits he was ready to hang up the boots before Manchester United striker Ronaldo called.

    Alves revealed, “[Cristiano Ronaldo] told me: ‘You have to keep playing. Take care of yourself and you’re in good shape. I know how much you like football, so don’t give up’.

    “It changed my decision.

    “It was great support from the best in the world. If Cristiano [Ronaldo] says to continue, then it’s because I can really continue.”

    Alves has since signed with Greece’s Smyrnis.

  • Ronaldo’s late goal helps Man Utd rally to a win

    Ronaldo’s late goal helps Man Utd rally to a win

    Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late header to secure victory as Manchester United came from two goals down to beat Atalanta 3-2 in a pulsating Champions League Group F at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

    Mario Pasalic put Atalanta ahead in the 15th minute, turning in Davide Zappacosta’s low ball from close range and United, with just one win in their last five games in all competitions, looked drained of belief.

    It was no great surprise when the Italian side doubled their lead in the 29th minute with Merih Demiral rising at the near post to glance in an angled header from a Teun Koopmeiners’ corner.

    Fred and Marcus Rashford missed good chances for United before the break but the home side got themselves back into the game in the 53rd minute.

    A clever ball from Bruno Fernandes allowed Rashford to cut in from the left and he picked his spot with a shot into the far corner.

    United drew level when Harry Maguire drilled the ball home at the back post after the stationary Atalanta defence failed to intercept a Fernandes ball across the box.

    Then came the winner as Luke Shaw whipped in a superb cross from the left and Ronaldo rose superbly to perfectly place a header past Musso.

    “I was right behind him. His leap, his timing, it was perfect right in the corner,” Maguire said.

    “We see it day in, day out in training and in the goals he has scored throughout his career. He has come up with a massive goal for us again in the Champions League.

    “We got the goals we needed and deserved and I think we deserved the win in the end. Yes, we made it difficult but it is a tremendous victory in the end,” he said.

    United top the group after three games on six points with Atalanta and Villarreal two points behind.

    The win also eases some pressure on United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who had come under criticism for the team’s recent poor form.

    “The fans are a big part of this club. The singing section there kept the players going with their belief. That is what you do at Manchester United on a Champions League night.

    “This corner of the stadium here are the best in the world. There is a bit of time when you are down as a supporter but you keep going.

    “I thought we played well first half too. Two chances, two goals. It had to stop if we are to survive. We have a habit of doing this at this club.

    “I thought we played well and they scored a goal out of nothing and then another set-piece. But they never stopped believing and kept going,” said Solskjaer.

    On the jeers directed at him and the players during the first half, Solskjaer said: “Don’t disrespect the players.

    “They play for Manchester United and they know they are the luckiest men in the world.

    “Tonight they are the luckiest men in the world because they get to play for Manchester United. That is what so many millions of boys and girls want to do.”