Rio Ferdinand has criticised the touchline antics of Cristiano Ronaldo after he was substituted against Young Boys in Tuesday’s shock defeat.
Ronaldo scored United’s only goal in the game to put Manchester United 1-0 up in Switzerland, but it was another night to forget in Europe for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who watched his side throw the lead away and lose the match in stoppage-time.
The Portuguese superstar was already off the pitch at this point, but at 1-1 he was seen getting up away from the bench and standing alongside the manager. Bruno Fernandes was also substituted at the time and close to the technical area.
Ronaldo and Fernandes going spare after that foul #mufc pic.twitter.com/x26scdxYjG
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) September 14, 2021
As quoted by the Metro, Ferdinand tells BT Sport he’d have told Ronaldo to sit down, though he later softened his stance as he understands how the Portugal international is a passionate winner.
“If I’m the manager, I’ve got to be honest, I’m telling him to sit down,” Ferdinand said.
He added: “I get it. You know, with Cristiano people go, ‘Oh it’s bravado, it’s for the fans’. He’s just a passionate guy. He wants to win, he’s desperate to win, and he can’t hold it in.
“If that means he has to go up there and stand next to the manager, shouting instructions etcetera, so be it. When it’s someone of his standing and stature in the game how can you argue with it?”
It’s not something for United fans to worry about because Solskjaer didn’t look bothered by it.
ronaldo is just practicing for when he has the job – i think he could be managing united by the end of the season as player manager. hoping anyhow.