United host Brighton on Tuesday and only need to win to temporarily regain fourth place in the Premier League. However, the team's top star, Ronaldo, has been unable to score for 6 games, and if this round is muted again, it will create the longest personal goal drought since 2009. In an attempt to score again, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to arrive at the training ground and leave on Sunday.
Ronaldo, 37, drove to Carrington at 9:20 a.m. and left the base at 2:20 p.m., which means he practiced for 5 hours more than his teammates! Cristiano Ronaldo's anxiety is understandable, his last goal was against Burnley on 30 December, and he has not opened his scoring account since entering 2022, and the last time he did not score in six games was before his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009.
Paul Ince, who has played for Manchester United and Liverpool, blasted Ronaldo for his selfishness, arguing that the club had signed him instead of Haaland, which was the wrong choice. "When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer first took charge, the plan was to bring in young players, but they suddenly signed Ronaldo, 37. You would feel, why not buy Haaland? Maybe it's because Cristiano Ronaldo originally wanted to go to Manchester City and people said his return was good for the club, the players and the youngsters, and we thought it would be, but the example he set, like a baby throwing a toy out of a stroller, is a bad example. We've seen many times that he ran back into the dressing room without looking back, sullen and didn't applaud the fans, which is not a good example. Why would you want to listen to someone who behaves this way? I know you're going to be depressed, but you should show your displeasure behind closed doors in the locker room, not in front of the fans and cameras."
Ince added: "He was very hot when he first came, but then he couldn't get a pass supply and started to retreat, which caused him to stop being a threat and then he became unhappy. He is a selfish player, and C Ronaldo pays the most attention to Ronaldo himself. If he doesn't score, he's not happy. We saw the same at Juventus, where Chiellini said they are now back in one big family. Manchester United and the team are the key, but now that Cristiano Ronaldo is in the spotlight, we are seeing a lot of frustration."
In the battle between Manchester United and Brighton, Cristiano Ronaldo had a good chance to continue to start, as Uruguayan centre-forward Cavani was still unable to play due to a groin injury. However, midfielder Fred and centre-back Eric Bai have resumed training, and Lonnick's personnel options have increased.
Fred missed the last two games due to a positive coronavirus but has resumed normal training on Monday. Matic has yet to return from a tibia injury and Fred will be battling McTomine and Pogba for two midfield starting positions. Lonnick confirmed: "Fred can play and he will be in the big list for tomorrow's race. Edinson (Cavani) is still out, neither is Nemania (Nemanja Matic)."
As for Bai, although he returns, it is still difficult to compete with Maguire and Lindlev for the starting center-back position. Lonnick still supports captain Maguire, who has been in a slump lately, and has made an excuse for the £80m Iron Guard, believing it is due to his habit of playing three centre-backs in England. But in fact, the Three Lions have only played three centre-backs in two of their seven European Cup games.
"I think Maguire has done very well after coming back from injury, especially for West Ham. But in the last two games against Southampton and Burnley, he did have some weaker moments." "But he's our captain and I don't think there's a reason to change," Lonnick said. Like other players, he has to improve slowly. The way we play now is a new tactic for him because he's used to three centre-backs in England and Manchester United are four-backs, we try to be proactive in defence, it's a new tactic for him and it takes time to adapt, that's all I can say."