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Ronaldo's ego, fragility at Old Trafford, complex schedule ... Manchester United enters a pivotal moment

2021-10-15T15:18:30.557Z


After three unsuccessful matches on the national scene and the start of a controversy with Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United is truly launching its season against Leicester this Saturday.


On May 19, 2013, Manchester United lifted the 20th English Championship in its history.

A day that remains engraved in the memories of the club, since Sir Alex Ferguson officiated for the last time at the head of the Red Devils.

MU has since been on AC and is running desperately behind the English crown.

Dolphins of the historic rival, Manchester City in 2021, the proteges of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aspire to regain the throne and return the letters of nobility to an institution which has not won any trophy since 2017.

To discover

  • Premier League fixtures and results

  • Premier League standings

A certain fragility at Old Trafford

A formidable transition team under the leadership of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United is irresistible outside its bases.

Unbeaten away from home since the start of last season, Paul Pogba's teammates impress on opposing lawns.

At Old Trafford, their performance reflects strongly with their outdoor prowess.

On the national scene, the Mancuniens remain on three matches without success at home.

An English League Cup loss to West Ham and an unexpected setback to Aston Villa.

Underperformance which slowed down the take-off of Manchester United, fourth in the championship two lengths behind the leader, Chelsea.

Solskjaer's men play the leading roles but could have widened the gap in the standings, as their schedule was affordable.

Just before the winter break, the Red Devils conceded a draw against Everton, against the backdrop of an emerging controversy around the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, replacing at kickoff.

Cristiano Ronaldo, immediate impact and controversy

A sharing of points that caused a lot of ink to flow around the Portuguese, unhappy after the match. Ruminating alone in the halls of the stadium, the five-time Golden Ball did not appreciate the management of his coach. Successive disappointing results coupled with a controversial reaction from his star player, which increased the pressure on the Norwegian coach's shoulders, as Gary Neville, a former club player, points out.

I watched him go and I can't say I like it.

Is Cristiano upset when he's not playing?

Yes.

[...] Actions like this - and Cristiano is smart enough to know it - will put a real pressure on the manager, more pressure than that which already undergoes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

I think it's something that needs to be managed over the next two months,

”he told

Sky Sports

microphone

.

However, the Manchester United technician had warned that he could spare the Portuguese before this match.

On the sidelines of the match against Leicester this Saturday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reversed this decision.

He is an exceptional player, an exceptional finisher, a goalscorer, an exceptional professional, it is difficult to leave him aside.

We arrived in May in the home stretch last season and we were too tired.

I manage the players for the club.

It's good to have him on the ground.

The more we have in the field, the better.

"

A statement that helps calm tensions and move forward.

Especially since Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in great shape at the club.

Five goals in six matches, and an instant contribution to the collective.

Disappointed with Juventus' lack of performance, the Portuguese aspires to return to the top, and sets great ambitions with Manchester United.

Achievements that his club will badly need, as the calendar is complicated for the finalists of the last Europa League.

A key moment of the season

After having more or less well negotiated an extremely favorable calendar, the Mancunians will get to the heart of the matter from Saturday. In the Premier League, Manchester United will successively face Leicester, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City. Little respite with the trip to Watford before rubbing shoulders with Chelsea and then Arsenal. A major stage of the season which will allow Solskjaer's men to gauge themselves against the big cars of the championship. Same observation in the Champions League, with the double confrontation against Atalanta Bergamo. In a group within their reach, the Red Devils are not on a favorable waiver after suffering a surprise loss to the Young Boys of Bern on the first day.

Against Villarreal, David de Gea pulled out all the stops to keep his team afloat, before Cristiano Ronaldo gave his team the victory in added time.

High-stakes matches that do not disturb Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, excited to play against these teams.

I can't think of Atalanta or Liverpool, only Leicester, the key is that we think of one game at a time.

We can't wait to start this series, every good player wants to play for the best teams

. "

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2021-10-15

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