Sir Alex Ferguson’s rare Cristiano Ronaldo review is a role model for Solskjaer

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Sir Alex Ferguson has called Cristiano Ronaldo the best player he has ever coached.

He also ranks him above Lionel Messi in the long-standing debate, although he hasn’t hailed him as the greatest of all time.

That didn’t mean Ronaldo was above criticism, however, as the Portuguese superstar received a brutal lesson from the Scotsman in 2009.

At this point, the United star was the latest Ballon d’Or winner, but that didn’t stop him from being demoted to the bench.

In April of the same year, the Red Devils were trying to fend off a Liverpool side in charge and retain their European crown.

Ronaldo, so often their go to man, had started to have the opposite effect. Mistakes against Aston Villa and Porto had cost United goals and Ferguson did not.

Sir Alex Ferguson never shied away from criticizing Cristiano Ronaldo, as he did in 2009

Twice in the span of three days, the forward had relinquished possession and watched his team pay the ultimate price.

The Portuguese star, then just 24, was a target for defenders, who tried to brutalize him, but Ferguson wanted him to learn that giving the ball away had consequences.

Publicly, the Scotsman has made it known that Ronaldo is on the bench for a game at Stadium of Light in Sunderland, which United won 2-1.

“I don’t accept that he gives goals because of the player he is,” said Ferguson. “I’m talking to him about it. I don’t accept that from anyone. In European football, if you give the ball away, it takes a long time to get it back.

Ronaldo would inevitably return to the starting XI and play an important role as United retained the league title, despite being beaten in the Champions League final by Barcelona in what would prove to be Ronaldo’s last game. for the club.

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Signed in 2003 as a precocious talent, the teenager of the time was slow to adapt to the English game. His jumps quickly became a hallmark and remain one of his defining images.

This led to him being cut down by opposition players and the referees were called upon to do more to protect the player.

However, Ferguson, as he often did, supported his player while challenging him, saying Ronaldo “can’t get everything his way”.

“He always has the impression that he is not well protected by the referees and I think that, perhaps, in a few cases he is right, and in a few cases he is not right”, a Ferguson said.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been benched for a game at Sunderland

“It’s hard when a player who wants to entertain doesn’t get everything his way. But you can’t get it all your way. He understands it and there is no problem with that.

Ronaldo’s testimony is that just four days after Ferguson’s public criticism and decision to sideline him, he was reminding everyone of his talents again.

The striker has been reinstated in the starting XI for a game in his home country at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto – a pitch on which no English team had ever won.

United won a 1-0 victory with Ronaldo scoring just under 40 yards to tie the quarter-finals. It is in a way the story of the career of this young man of 36 years. Yes it is frustrating, divisive at times, but time and time again it produces.

The Portuguese star had great moments after his bench

After a 12-year absence in Spain and Italy, Ronaldo returned to Manchester this summer and again poses puzzles that his manager, now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, must solve.

Ferguson’s influence in bringing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner back to Old Trafford was clear. Ronaldo himself wrote an Instagram post on his return and signed it “Sir Alex, this one is for you”.

The Scotsman however watched last Sunday as United were humiliated by Liverpool. The expression on his face said it all.

Now it’s up to Solskjaer to try and make the most of this version of Ronaldo – and Ferguson’s ruthless approach could prove to be the model.

The forward has started steadily since returning earlier this season with his only notable omission in the draw against Everton.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to make the most of his No.7 if he is to succeed (

Picture:

Alex Pantling / Getty Images)

The commotion caused by his snub has almost eclipsed United’s poor performance, which in itself is not good for the club, player or team.

Ferguson may have been seen to say ‘you should always start with your best players’ – but he often left out the big names to make a point.

With United still on the hunt for an identity under Solskjaer, making changes that don’t include Ronaldo might not be the worst thing.

Whenever adjustments are made before matches or subs made during matches, there is that untouchable aura around the man wearing the No.7.

Who is currently the best manager in the world?

Yes, that reputation can be earned, but Solskjaer has yet to prove that he can say no to Ronaldo to get a reaction. The Portuguese star is a model professional and would surely react in the right way.

Even if the Red Devils become an urgent team, Ronaldo may still have a role to play, perhaps on the bench, but a role nonetheless.

Pundits and fans keep saying ‘you’re not signing Ronaldo to leave him on the bench’.

Well, going back to Ferguson’s tenure, do you have a Ballon d’Or winner to leave it out when he makes a mistake or two? The answer was clearly yes.

If United are to succeed, Ronaldo will be a crucial figure, but he doesn’t need to be the central figure.

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