The ageless wonder Cristiano Ronaldo saved Manchester United’s blushes yet again with a trademark soaring header in this morning’s 3-2 Champions League comeback win over Atalanta.
But Stan Sport’s panel of football experts are unsure whether even Ronaldo can save manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s job in the long-term after United were given an almighty scare, down 2-0 at halftime.
Club legend Solskjaer had been under immense pressure heading into the match on the back of a listless 4-2 away loss against Leicester City in the Premier League.
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And the Associated Press’ Steve Douglas wrote that the 36-year-old Ronaldo’s “decreased mobility and ability to press from the front as United’s central striker looks to be impacting the players behind him. The tactic seems to be: Get the ball to Ronaldo and hope for the best.”
It was a also a hot tactical topic in the Stan Sport studio as Solskjaer and United wrestle with the best way to incorporate the Champions League’s greatest goalscorer.
“Every single thing you’ve said about him not pressing causing an issue for the rest of the team, I agree with all of it,” said European expert Lars Sivertsen, who predicted the Ronaldo heroics.
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“But the other side of him is if you’re in this sort of chaotic game, where you’re pushing for a winner, if there’s one man in the world that you want that cross in the box to go to, it is Cristiano Ronaldo.
“And this is the great paradox with him.
“He will score many goals for them this season but it’s up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to find out how to set up the team to mitigate the weaknesses that he does have.”
Former United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich was a relieved man after his beloved club pulled victory from the jaws of defeat.
But he said the classic game of two halves against the aggressive Italians illustrated some clear shortcomings at Old Trafford.
“I actually think that at this moment in time, in this evolution of this Manchester United side, I really don’t think it’s a problem just to play at high intensity and not to get too much involved in the tactical side in their minds because I don’t think they’re quite capable, at the moment, of actually executing that,” Bosnich said.
“Play at a high intensity, play to your strengths.
“When they try to involve themselves in that tactical type of battle at the moment, I don’t think they’re good enough to do it.”
Fellow former Socceroo, Craig Foster, was bemused by that logic given the high priced pedigree at Solskjaer’s disposal.
“You have a squad that is worth about $1.2 billion pounds (A$2.2b), you have unbelievable footballers there,” Foster said.
“These guys are all champions in their national teams and this is an incredible team…
“These are the game that you expect Manchester United to be really dominating and doing well.
“That first half should have been much, much better and after three years I’d be asking ‘is this team progressing?’ Because that’s what Ole’s saying.
“I want him to do well but I’m just saying ‘are they taking the next step?’
“Because that second half, you need to do against the best teams in the world.”
The likeable Solksjaer has been at the United helm since 2018 as the club continues to search for sustained success and a fresh identity in the post-Alex Ferguson era
United sit sixth in the Premier League and now turn their attention to a crunch clash with Liverpool on Monday (AEST).
Despite the memorable comeback against Atalanta, Bosnich agreed it was fair to keep questioning the direction of the club under its Norwegian coach.
“In terms of progress… coming up to three years now, it’s debatable whether or not,” Bosnich said.
“They come third in the league, second in the league, but let’s be honest, during that time I never had a feeling they were going to win the league…
“If they lose tonight I wouldn’t be here talking at the end of the game – I told you I was going to go.”
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Solksjaer, meanwhile, took umbrage with a journalist suggesting the comeback proved United were “playing for you.”
“Don’t even start,” Solksjaer clapped back.
“Don’t disrespect the players – they play for Man United and they know they’re the luckiest men in the world. And I said that to them, tonight they’re the luckiest men in the world.”
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