Former Manchester United academy player Luke Chadwick doesn’t think Cristiano Ronaldo is happy with Ralf Rangnick’s decision to bench him for the draw with Burnley.
Ronaldo was named on the bench at Turf Moor on Tuesday night for United’s 1-1 draw. He eventually came on for Edinson Cavani on 68 minutes but was unable to help the Reds seal the all-important three points.
But every time Ronaldo, 37, has been benched this season, the manager gets criticised by various pundits within the media.
First Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, now Rangnick, in such a way that the next manager is doomed if he tries to manage Ronaldo’s game time as the superstar comes to the end of his career.
Surely Ronaldo is now grown up to understand that he can’t play every minute of every game? He’d just played 120 minutes against Boro in the FA Cup just four days prior.
Chadwick must think very little of Ronaldo if he reckons being benched against Burnley has led the winger to throw his toys out of the pram but, speaking to CaughtOffside, the former academy player said: “I’m sure Cristiano Ronaldo’s not happy.
“He’s going to want to start every game. He won’t see it as him being a player who’s getting a bit older and needs a bit more rest. He’s one of the best players that’s ever lived, and he’ll feel he should start every game.
“I’m sure he’ll be frustrated, he had a couple of opportunities but didn’t have a huge impact.
“But I don’t think there’s anything to worry about in terms of the fans’ feelings about Ronaldo, he’s a living legend at the club. He plays on the edge and if he’s unhappy he’s not afraid to show it, so I don’t see it as a massive problem.
“He’s a born winner, he wants to win, so there’s probably frustration at not starting the game and then how the game’s gone, but you wouldn’t want to change anything about him.”
I guess Chadwick has a point about Ronaldo being unhappy since he stormed down the tunnel in frustration after the final whistle was blown, but I highly doubt you will see him named on the bench this weekend.
Moreover, the reason for his unhappiness may sit with the team’s position in the Premier League after drawing away to Burnley.
He will be thinking about the next game and getting back on the scoresheet against Southampton.
