Although Manchester United lost its opening game without Cristiano Ronaldo, a 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Saturday seemed to support the notion that the team would be better off without the egotistical superstar.
Even though Casemiro’s goal in the 94th minute was necessary to earn United a point, the team played far better as a unit without the five-time world player of the year.
Ronaldo has only played two Premier League games this season, the 4-0 thumping by Brentford and the 0-0 stalemate with Newcastle United. Coach Erik ten Hag has ordered Ronaldo to work alone ever since he left the 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur early.
The 37-year-old played a total of 36 minutes in United’s three most remarkable victories of the season, against Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham.
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When Anthony Martial had to be replaced due to injury, Ten Hag was obliged to look to him, and he scored the game-winning goal in the 2-1 victory at Everton.
Few of his teammates are capable of the type of precision finish he used to score his 700th club goal.
However, Ronaldo’s brilliant performances are becoming less frequent. He has only scored once, and it was a penalty, even in the Europa League, where he has started each of the four games against inferior competition like Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia Nicosia.
Twelve years after his trophy-laden tenure with the club, Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford and finished the season as United’s leading scorer with 18 of the team’s 57 Premier League goals.
It also had a string of embarrassing losses, including 5-0 losses to Liverpool at home and 4-1 losses to Watford, and ended sixth in the Premier League. It finished second and scored 73 goals the season before he joined.
RELUCTANT TEN HAG
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, Ten Hag’s predecessors, did not have the power to routinely keep Ronaldo out of the team, but the Dutchman has been brutal with him, and United must now decide what to do with its illustrious forward.
Although offers might come in January, it didn’t receive any serious offers for him in the summer. According to rumors in the media, the best way to ensure that he leaves is to terminate his contract, which would cost the club about £10 million.
Lack of alternative attacking options, coupled with Martial’s propensity for injuries, Marcus Rashford’s recent spate of clear-cut opportunities missed, and big-money addition Jadon Sancho’s continued ineffectiveness, are some arguments against releasing Ronaldo.
However, if it needs guidance, it may consult Arsenal, who in January suffered a financial loss when they parted ways with former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang because he violated coach Mikel Arteta’s disciplinary policy.
The club now has a palpable sense of unity thanks to Arteta, who also fired Mesut Ozil before his contract was up and led Arsenal to the top of the Premier League.
Under Ten Hag, United is displaying signs of a similar comeback, and it is becoming increasingly obvious that the only way to realize their potential is to unite around the manager rather than its celebrated but waning striker.
