Ronaldo’s Return: Blessing or Burden for Manchester United?

Cristiano Ronaldo’s signing was a surprise to many, prompting one senior Manchester United staff member to cut short a family holiday at the directive of Ed Woodward and return immediately to Manchester to prepare for the announcement. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also had little time to contemplate the move, though he didn’t require it.

“It was a very quick decision,” Solskjaer shared on the Stick to Football podcast. “When it became clear he was leaving Juventus, there were other clubs interested, but I was thrilled. They asked if I wanted us to pursue this, and I said yes. We all know Cristiano’s quality, and while he’s 37, we must manage him wisely—he’s the best goal-scorer in the world.”

Manchester United started the 2021-22 season positively, thrashing Leeds 5-1 on the opening day and securing seven points from their first three matches. Ronaldo had an impressive debut, scoring twice in a 4-1 victory over Newcastle at a jubilant Old Trafford. However, the drawbacks of his return quickly became evident, as United suffered a 2-1 loss to Young Boys in the Champions League in their subsequent match.

Ronaldo did net an important goal in a 2-1 win at West Ham, yet United stumbled, losing five of their next seven league matches, leading to Solskjaer’s dismissal after a 4-1 defeat to Watford in mid-November.

Although Ronaldo continued to score crucial goals in the Champions League, these contributions could not mask the fact that his presence had created significant imbalance within the team.

Solskjaer acknowledged the challenge, noting, “We immediately started thinking about how we would press and adapt our tactics. With the ball, it was seamless; without him pressing, we had to adjust the roles that players had grown accustomed to, as we had previously been one of the highest pressing teams.”

While Solskjaer believed Ronaldo understood the necessity of rotation given his age, the reality was that any time the manager opted to bench the Portuguese star, it resulted in a significant backlash. A notable incident occurred when Ferguson was seen advising UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov that “you should always start with your best players” after Ronaldo was left out against Everton, undermining Solskjaer’s authority.

This incident contributed to the perception that Ronaldo’s return had turned United’s tenure into a spectacle. “Cristiano, when you know him, wants to play three out of four games; he understands he’s aging. But when I leave him out even once, he’s not pleased!” Solskjaer reflected. “I’ve pondered this extensively… Signing Cristiano was the right decision, but perhaps it would have benefited both him and us if he hadn’t come back.”

It wasn’t just Ronaldo’s languid pace that posed an issue; shortly after his arrival, Solskjaer noticed a decline in team morale. He remarked to The Athletic, “A cohesive group is essential. When things falter, certain players and egos surface. The collective spirit waned, which is uncharacteristic of Manchester United, where teams thrive on unity. Some players felt entitled to more playing time and were not conducive to a positive environment.”

Ronaldo’s return marked a pivotal moment for Solskjaer’s United, yet the disappointing conclusion does not diminish the fact that he remains the club’s longest-serving manager since Ferguson’s departure, achieving notable results. In his two full seasons, the team finished third and second, making him the only manager since Ferguson to secure consecutive top-four finishes. He revitalized the club, restoring a sense of belief following the tenure of Jose Mourinho.

Nemanja Matic recalled, “I felt regret because Ole was a fantastic individual, and we were on the brink of something significant. I was not his first choice in midfield and typically struggled with coaches I didn’t play for, but Ole was different. He united players outside the starting XI and understood the club and fanbase.

“We finished second and third under his leadership, which created an atmosphere of dissatisfaction with merely finishing second, yet when considering the current results, we performed remarkably. I believe Ole deserved more time, as did his staff, including Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna. They were on the right path to restoring United.”

Marcus Rashford also expressed admiration for Solskjaer, stating, “Ole is a remarkable person. I genuinely enjoyed playing for him, and many at Manchester United shared that sentiment.”

In stark contrast, the negative atmosphere fostered by Ruben Amorim highlighted the importance of unity, with Solskjaer acting as a unifying force who produced immediate results, winning 14 of his first 17 matches. His impact was similarly felt at Besiktas, where he secured eight victories in his initial twelve matches, including a 4-1 victory over Athletic Club and a win against local rivals Galatasaray.

Though critiques exist about Solskjaer’s tactical approach, the experiences of Amorim illustrate that players at major clubs often struggle with excessive instructions. Solskjaer’s straightforward counter-attacking style facilitated the success of players like Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo. Notably, Bruno Fernandes experienced his most prolific period at United under Solskjaer, accumulating 26 goals and 19 assists in his first two seasons.

In addition to bringing Ronaldo back, Solskjaer’s significant error was underestimating the need for a different approach against formidable rivals like Manchester City and Liverpool during his final weeks in charge. These rivals amassed 93 and 92 points, respectively, and Solskjaer’s strategy proved naive.

Liverpool overwhelmed United 5-0, while City outclassed them in a 2-0 defeat that felt almost as disheartening as the loss to Klopp’s side. He later stated, “I viewed those home games as a necessity to be Manchester United. We couldn’t simply defend or be counter-attacking; we needed to challenge them head-on, as that’s what being at Manchester United entails. At some point, we had to evolve, but we weren’t prepared. We simply weren’t good enough.”

Solskjaer’s United thrived when they played to their strengths. If he learns from the missteps of his initial tenure, he could rekindle the joy at a club that has recently experienced a drought of hope.