The Tactical Blunder and Ronaldo’s Unintended Bench Stint: Former Manchester United and Liverpool striker, Michael Owen, has boldly asserted that the Red Devils made a tactical blunder involving Cristiano Ronaldo this season. The superstar Portuguese forward found himself frequently relegated to the substitutes’ bench under the helm of HLV Erik ten Hag. Owen contends that Ten Hag’s decision to not start Ronaldo consistently in matches throughout recent weeks was an oversight, as he believes the former Real Madrid player possesses the prowess to resolve the team’s scoring woes.
Ronaldo’s Contract Controversy and the Rashford Dilemma: The controversy surrounding Ronaldo’s contract with Manchester United came to light following a contentious interview exchange with British journalist Piers Morgan. The contract ended with mutual consent, leading to speculation about Ronaldo’s future in the squad.
This departure paved the way for Marcus Rashford to face the pressure of shouldering the team’s goal-scoring responsibilities. Ten Hag publicly challenged Rashford to net 20 goals per season. However, Michael Owen argues that Manchester United already had a player capable of netting those 20 goals – Cristiano Ronaldo. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner showcased his goal-scoring prowess by recording 24 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions in the previous season.
Ronaldo’s Benching and Ten Hag’s Betrayal: Owen conveyed his perspective to the Manchester Evening News, emphasizing that Ten Hag’s focus on Rashford achieving the 20-goal target overlooked the potential of Ronaldo to fulfill the same role. The English former footballer highlighted the irony of having a player capable of such goal-scoring feats in their ranks but often left on the bench during crucial matches.
Owen’s further commentary suggests that Ten Hag could have avoided this situation by consistently fielding Ronaldo and allowing him to address the team’s scoring struggles. He critiques Ten Hag’s handling of Ronaldo, asserting that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s status wasn’t appropriately acknowledged within the team, leading to what he deems a bitter betrayal on the part of Manchester United.
Rashford’s Role and Limitations: As the scrutiny intensifies around Marcus Rashford as a potential replacement for Ronaldo’s goal-scoring prowess, Owen offers his perspective. He acknowledges Rashford’s contributions but highlights that Rashford isn’t the primary goal-scoring force that the team requires. Owen questions whether Rashford can replicate the feats of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, or other exceptional forwards who consistently netted 30 goals per season.
Rashford’s versatility and impact are acknowledged, particularly following his performance at the World Cup. However, Owen asserts that Rashford’s contributions remain limited in terms of providing the team with a consistent and prolific goal-scoring presence.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s legacy at Manchester United embodies both missed opportunities and a sense of betrayal in his final season. The tactical decisions of HLV Ten Hag, the contractual controversies, and Rashford’s role have all combined to create a narrative that challenges the team’s ability to harness its most potent goal-scoring asset. Despite this, CR7’s legend continues to shine brightly at Old Trafford, leaving fans and football pundits alike pondering what might have been.
