Pundit rubbishes ‘nonsense’ Man United-Ronaldo dig from Neville
Kevin Phillips has ridiculed the idea of Cristiano Ronaldo being unable to press and defend for Man United.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the 2000 European Golden Shoe winner is adamant the 36-year-old’s lack of pressing is down to the tactics of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
According to The Athletic (18th October), Ronaldo’s 2.7 pressures per 90 minutes is the worst of any Premier League forward to play at least 270 minutes this season.
However, against Atalanta the Portugal captain recorded seven pressures and scored an 81st minute winner in a 3-2 win at Old Trafford. (FBref)
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Gary Neville claimed the Red Devils are carrying their star player out of possession.
Ronaldo failed to add to his six-goal tally for the campaign in Sunday’s humiliating 5-0 defeat to Liverpool although he did have a goal narrowly chalked off for off-side.
When asked by Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs for his thoughts on the idea of Ronaldo being unable to press, Phillips said: “It’s nonsense.
“Personally, I think he can do it. He is as fit as anyone. I know as you get older you slow down but Ronaldo is a machine.
“I’m convinced it’s a tactical, his lack of pressing. I think Ole has told him not to track back and press.
“I remember when I played under Ian Holloway. He told me to only track back until the halfway line and then stop. He said, ‘I don’t want you wasting energy.’ That is why I think it could be tactical. They will want him to be at it when they get the ball.
“But, nowadays you need all of your players to keep working. I’m sure Ronaldo can do it. He showed he can against Atalanta.
“The only question is whether he can do it Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday. That might be a push.”
In other news, a pundit has claimed two Man United stars are ‘not happy’ after dressing room ‘upset’ is revealed by Ornstein.