Solskajer: 'Man Utd must change the way they play when reuniting with Ronaldo'

Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted that he had to change Man Utd's pressing style after recruiting Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2021, and the deal was not as successful as expected.

Ronaldo is an Old Trafford legend thanks to his resounding successes with Man Utd from 2003 to 2009. He returned here at the end of the summer transfer window in 2021, after leaving Juventus. But in this reunion, the Portuguese striker only stayed for a year and a half, scoring 27 goals in 54 matches, without winning any more titles.

In his first season, although Man Utd did not play well, Ronaldo still impressed with 24 goals in 38 matches in all competitions. In the 2022-2023 season, the 39-year-old striker lost his starting position under new coach Erik ten Hag, scoring three goals in 16 matches, before terminating his contract at the end of 2022.

Ronaldo chatted with Solskjaer when they were both serving Man Utd in the 2021-2022 season. Photo: Reuters — Ronaldo chatted with Solskjaer when they were both serving Man Utd in the 2021-2022 season. Photo: *Reuters*

On the Stick to Football podcast on March 5, Solskjaer - Man Utd's coach when Ronaldo returned in the summer of 2021 - said that Ronaldo's return to Man Utd happened unexpectedly and quickly. "We didn't think Ronaldo would leave," the Norwegian coach said. "When we heard that Ronaldo wanted to leave Juventus, there were obviously other clubs interested, but I was very excited. Man Utd asked my opinion and I agreed. Everyone knows Ronaldo is a quality player, even though he was 37 at the time. Ronaldo is the best scorer in the world. The deal didn't work out for me, for Ronaldo, but it was the right decision at the time."

Solskjaer admitted that he had to immediately find a way to change Man Utd's playing style, because Ronaldo's playing style was completely different from Antony Martial, Mason Greenwood or Marcus Rashford when he played as a striker before. The 51-year-old coach also said that Edinson Cavani was the one most affected by Ronaldo's appearance, when he was no longer used at Old Trafford.

"We started thinking about how we pressed and had to make small adjustments," Solskjaer said. "When we had the ball, having Ronaldo was fine. But when we didn't have the ball, we had to change a little bit the different roles that we were used to. Man Utd were one of the highest pressing clubs before Ronaldo. We also left Daniel James after Ronaldo and they are two different types of players."

Solskjaer added that United wanted Ronaldo's hunger and fighting spirit but insisted his qualities sometimes hindered the team. "Part of signing Ronaldo was getting passion from him, but that has its complications," Solskjaer said. "Greenwood, Rashford and Martial can learn from him because he's the best, the most disciplined and you think he'll help them. When he came back to Man Utd, Ronaldo told me to start him three games in a row and then be on the bench for the fourth. But he was so passionate that when I did that, he didn't like it."

Ronaldo shakes hands with Rashford during a Premier League match. Photo: Reuters — Ronaldo shakes hands with Rashford during a Premier League match. Photo: *Reuters*

Solskjaer insists there was no fall-out with Ronaldo during his time at Old Trafford. "I can't remember too many problems with Ronaldo," the Norwegian said. "Maybe just the Everton game, when he was a sub, came on in the second half and walked off the pitch at the end. But there were more problems with Ronaldo after I left the team. I had a good relationship and a lot of respect for him. I think he behaved very well when I worked with him, despite the frustrations."

Solskjaer led Man Utd from March 2019 to November 2021, winning 91, drawing 37 and losing 40 out of 168, achieving a win rate of 54.17%. The Norwegian coach's best achievements were finishing second in the Premier League and reaching the final of the 2020-2021 Europa League. Solskajer is the only one who has not helped Man Utd win any titles in the post-Ferguson era, while David Moyes won the Community Shield, Louis van Gaal won the FA Cup and Jose Mourinho won the treble, including Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League.

Hong Duy

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