Cristiano Ronaldo must be patient, according to Wayne Rooney, to earn more opportunities at Manchester United after drawing another blank on Thursday night.
The 37-year-old hasn’t started a Premier League game since United’s 4-0 demolition of Brentford on August 13, with Erik ten Hag preferring to employ Marcus Rashford in that central slot. Rashford has scored three goals and provided one assist in his previous five league appearances, proving that the method works.
What has Wayne Rooney said about Ronaldo?
Rashford was named Premier League Player of the Month for September after a string of outstanding performances, and he added two more goals in United’s 3-2 Europa League victory over Omonia Nicosia.
In the same game, Ronaldo blew a wonderful opportunity to record his 700th career goal, hitting the post from close range when it appeared like it would be easier to miss than score.
Ten Hag has opted to give Ronaldo more opportunities in Europe after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was benched in United’s 6-3 loss to Manchester City last weekend. It was a new low for Ronaldo, as Ten Hag opted to bring in five players instead, but Rooney has advised Ronaldo to remain patient at Manchester United.
Rooney said, “The manager’s obviously gone a different way in terms of how they’re playing and been successful”. “Cristiano… him and (Lionel) Messi are two of the greatest players to ever play the game, but ultimately time catches up with us all”.
“Knowing him, it’ll be very difficult for him to sit on the bench… I’m sure if he stays patient, his chance will come and, again, it’s then obviously him taking those chances and trying to force his way back in”.
Despite failing to score in Cyprus, Ten Hag was happy with Ronaldo’s overall performance and believes he will score his first goal from open play since April soon.
“CR7 is known to consider Ten Hag rigid and excessively wedded” to the techniques he employed as Ajax manager, according to the source. During the January transfer window, Ronaldo has been widely linked with a move away from Manchester United.
“Privately, Ten Hag would be relieved to be rid of the quandary of sharing a locker room with a player who openly criticises his skills,” the report went on to say. It remains to be seen whether United will allow Ronaldo go six months before the end of his two-year contract.
