Pep Guardiola has made his feelings on Cristiano Ronaldo clear as Manchester United make a U-turn.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is set to recall Cristiano Ronaldo for the Manchester derby against Manchester City, with injuries providing the forward with an opportunity to shine.
Pep Guardiola has reacted to Manchester United's signing of Cristiano Ronaldo.Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to return to Manchester United's starting lineup for Sunday's derby against Manchester City.
After a summer of discontent, the 37-year-old has been forced to wait for his opportunities in the new season. For much of the transfer window, Ronaldo appeared determined to leave, with reports claiming he desired a return to the Champions League.
Despite the speculation, he would remain at Old Trafford, albeit in a role he has rarely played in his long and illustrious career - super sub. Ronaldo has appeared in just one Premier League game for United, and that came in their worst performance of the season, a 4-0 loss to Brentford.With Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial both ruled out of this weekend's match at the Etihad, Erik ten Hag will be forced to reintroduce the veteran. In public, the United manager has remained entirely positive about the Portuguese icon, insisting that he is a key component of his Old Trafford revolution.
However, actions speak louder than words, and his continued omission suggested that the Dutchman was content to play without Ronaldo. That appears to be changing, and Pep Guardiola will be tasked with stopping a hungry Ronaldo, who has a point to prove to his critics.And his detractors grow by the week, with the Portuguese press demanding he be dropped from the national team and Antonio Cassano urging him to retire. "At this point, Cristiano should love himself, do himself a favor, and realize that if he cannot reach a certain level, he must call it quits." He has won everything and is a phenomenon. "It's time to call it quits," the former Real Madrid striker said.
Guardiola, on the other hand, will not be joining that list and is well aware of the type of challenge his team will face. The former Barcelona manager has faced Ronaldo for much of his managerial career and is well aware of the threat he poses."With [Lionel] Messi, he's been one of the greatest in the last 15 years," the Spaniard said last year. "What these two guys have done will not be repeated.
Erik ten Hag is expected to recall Manchester United to the starting lineup for Sunday's derby against Manchester City."When you achieve these things, you are scrutinized every second of your life, and now, with social media, even more so." He's an exceptional finisher, and it's been a pleasure to watch him over the years."
Guardiola even admitted before their meeting last season that he needed to devise a special plan to stop one of the game's greatest goal scorers. "We have to explode our game, our strength, to avoid Cristiano close to the box, because he is almost unstoppable there," he said."I remember when we were winning 1-0 and in control, perfect, perfect, and then the first time he arrived, he made a chance, and Eddy [Ederson Moraes] made an incredible save." He hadn't touched the ball, but he was close to scoring. He possesses that quality and ability.
"We have to keep him under control. You will always be there when you are one of the greatest goal scorers of all time, as he was. He is mentally tough. He handled pressure well because he had to deal with it throughout his career and always responded positively."
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