Mike Phelan denies pressure to start Ronaldo last season

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United during the warm up in the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 19, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo was Manchester United’s top goalscorer last season. It’s a fact that has become overused by fanboys online who think he warrants a starting role this season under Erik ten Hag.

You can tell with every passing press conference that there is pressure from the media when it comes to Cristiano Ronaldo. He created even more drama over his future last night when he stormed towards the Stretford End tunnel on the 89th minute.

Annoyed that he was being snubbed on the bench and not been given a chance to add to his career tally, Ronaldo decided to call it a night and reports suggest that he did not stay to celebrate with his team-mates after the 2-0 win over Tottenham.

Former United assistant manager Mike Phelan has claimed that there no was pressure on the coaching staff to select Ronaldo, which I don’t think many people can believe when you consider it was a signing that was put on the manager’s doorstep in the final hours of the transfer window.

He told Astro SuperSport, as per Manchester Evening News: “No. No, not really, not to the point that it [the suggestion] was made. When I talk about the noise and the outside influences, then yes. There is a lot of talk about [him]. If Cristiano plays and he scores, Manchester United win. If he doesn’t play and we lose, then Cristiano should have played. That will always be there and you can’t avoid that. But, from our point of view, every manager and every coach talks only about winning the game of football. And how you are going to do that. That is the hardest thing. So you pick the best team and the best players to help you try to do that.”

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