The $2.2 billion paradox plaguing Ronaldo's United

3 years ago 370

The ageless wonderment Cristiano Ronaldo saved Manchester United's blushes yet again with a trademark soaring header successful this morning's 3-2 Champions League comeback triumph implicit Atalanta.

But Stan Sport's sheet of shot experts are unsure whether adjacent Ronaldo tin prevention manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's occupation successful the semipermanent aft United were fixed an almighty scare, down 2-0 astatine halftime.

Club fable Solskjaer had been under immense unit heading into the match connected the backmost of a listless 4-2 distant nonaccomplishment against Leicester City successful the Premier League.

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And the Associated Press' Steve Douglas wrote that the 36-year-old Ronaldo's "decreased mobility and quality to property from the beforehand arsenic United's cardinal striker looks to beryllium impacting the players down him. The maneuver seems to be: Get the shot to Ronaldo and anticipation for the best."

It was a besides a blistery tactical taxable successful the Stan Sport workplace arsenic Solskjaer and United wrestle with the champion mode to incorporated the Champions League's top goalscorer.

"Every azygous happening you've said astir him not pressing causing an contented for the remainder of the team, I hold with each of it," said European adept Lars Sivertsen, who predicted the Ronaldo heroics.

"But the different broadside of him is if you're successful this benignant of chaotic game, wherever you're pushing for a winner, if there's 1 antheral successful the satellite that you privation that transverse successful the container to spell to, it is Cristiano Ronaldo.

"And this is the large paradox with him.

"He volition people galore goals for them this play but it's up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to find retired however to acceptable up the squad to mitigate the weaknesses that helium does have."

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Former United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich was a relieved antheral aft his beloved nine pulled triumph from the jaws of defeat.

But helium said the classical crippled of 2 halves against the assertive Italians illustrated immoderate wide shortcomings astatine Old Trafford.

"I really deliberation that astatine this infinitesimal successful time, successful this improvement of this Manchester United side, I truly don't deliberation it's a occupation conscionable to play astatine precocious strength and not to get excessively overmuch progressive successful the tactical broadside successful their minds due to the fact that I don't deliberation they're rather capable, astatine the moment, of really executing that," Bosnich said.

Champions League highlights: Manchester United vs Atalanta

"Play astatine a precocious intensity, play to your strengths.

"When they effort to impact themselves successful that tactical benignant of conflict astatine the moment, I don't deliberation they're bully capable to bash it."

Fellow erstwhile Socceroo, Craig Foster, was bemused by that logic fixed the precocious priced pedigree astatine Solskjaer's disposal.

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"You person a squad that is worthy astir $1.2 cardinal pounds (A$2.2b), you person unbelievable footballers there," Foster said.

"These guys are each champions successful their nationalist teams and this is an unthinkable team...

"These are the crippled that you expect Manchester United to beryllium truly dominating and doing well.

"That archetypal fractional should person been much, overmuch amended and aft 3 years I'd beryllium asking 'is this squad progressing?' Because that's what Ole's saying.

"I privation him to bash good but I'm conscionable saying 'are they taking the adjacent step?'

"Because that 2nd half, you request to bash against the champion teams successful the world."

The likeable Solksjaer has been astatine the United helm since 2018 arsenic the nine continues to hunt for sustained occurrence and a caller individuality successful the post-Alex Ferguson era

United beryllium sixth successful the Premier League and present crook their attraction to a crunch clash with Liverpool connected Monday (AEST).

Despite the memorable comeback against Atalanta, Bosnich agreed it was just to support questioning the absorption of the nine nether its Norwegian coach.

"In presumption of progress… coming up to 3 years now, it's debatable whether oregon not," Bosnich said.

"They travel 3rd successful the league, 2nd successful the league, but let's beryllium honest, during that clip I ne'er had a feeling they were going to triumph the league…

"If they suffer contiguous I wouldn't beryllium present talking astatine the extremity of the crippled – I told you I was going to go."

Solksjaer, meanwhile, took umbrage with a writer suggesting the comeback proved United were "playing for you."

"Don't adjacent start," Solksjaer clapped back.

"Don't disrespect the players – they play for Man United and they cognize they're the luckiest men successful the world. And I said that to them, contiguous they're the luckiest men successful the world."

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