MANCHESTER, May 22 (ABC): Cristiano Ronaldo is “not a pressing monster”, according to Ralf Rangnick, who has admitted that Manchester United have had to compromise tactically to fit the veteran striker’s style of play.
The outgoing interim manager has conceded that he never found the right balance between attack and defence.
Cristiano Ronaldo is “not a pressing monster”, according to Ralf Rangnick, who has admitted that Manchester United have had to compromise tactically to fit the veteran striker’s style of play.
Ronaldo has led the line for United impressively since returning to Old Trafford from Juventus last summer, scoring 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions.
However, the Red Devils have slipped out of the Premier League’s top four and suffered early exits in all major cup competitions despite the 37-year-old’s goals, and Rangnick concedes that he has been unable to find the right balance during his seven-month stint in the dugout.
“I am the one who is most disappointed about that and frustrated about that,” Rangnick told a press conference. “At one stage we just had to find compromises — attacking a little bit deeper, how can we make sure that we get our offensive players into their positions?
“Cristiano scored a few goals but, again, Cristiano — and I’m not blaming him at all, he did great in those games – but he’s not a pressing monster. He’s not a player – even when he was a young player – he was not a young player who was crying, shouting ‘Hurray, the other team has got the ball, where can we win balls?’