Gary Neville points out ‘that one problem’ that Cristiano Ronaldo still needs to overcome
Cristiano Ronaldo made a sensational return to Manchester United in 2021 summer transfer window. It is now regarded as one of the greatest homecoming in football history.
However, Gary Neville think Manchester United will not become a more attacking team with Cristiano Ronaldo in front. He has pointed out the one problem that Ronaldo still has to overcome.
He said: “With it comes big positives, but with it also comes problems. Ronaldo had to be managed shall we say…
“In the 2008 Barcelona semi-final away from home, Cristiano Ronaldo was shoved up front on his own, and [Wayne] Rooney and Ji-sung Park were shoved wide, and [Carlos] Tevez was brought back to [mark] [Sergio] Busquets.
“You couldn’t carry him in the big games because he generally doesn’t work hard enough.
“So he’s playing up front now — you’re never going to press from the front. So, the idea that Manchester United can become a pressing team with Cristiano up front is never going to happen. He wasn’t pressing 10-15 years ago.
“So what you say then is, ‘What’s the style of Manchester United?’ Well, they’re a counter-attack team.
Despite being Ronaldo’s teammate at Old Trafford back in United’s title winning days, Gary pointed out the problem associated with him. He said that Ronaldo was not pressing during his first spell at the Red Devils.
The 36-year-old Portuguese scored 4 goals in his first month for the ‘Red Devils’. He won the Premier League Player Of The Month in September along with the club’s POTM too.
