Cristiano Ronaldo may not be as devasting as he once was, but nobody can doubt his willingness to work for his team.
The 37-year-old is just as tenacious and remains as eager to win as he’s always been, and although he may not be his happiest at Man United, manager Erik Ten Hag has recognised the Portuguese megastar’s admirable work rate.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier League away to Aston Villa, Ten Hag, who spoke to the club’s official website, said: “We defend with 11, starting with Cristiano up front.
“So we are hard to beat as a team. That’s a compliment but it’s also that process we have to keep going.
“That makes it hard to beat us because everyone is convinced of that plan, everyone is disciplined in that plan.
“When we play with the desire and passion, we are hard to beat and that makes us, in this moment, successful.”
Read more: Manchester United’s potential opponents in the Europa League Round of 16 play-offs
It remains unknown if Ronaldo will start against Villa but he certainly has a chance.
Anthony Martial is still out injured and with Jadon Sancho in dire form, there is an argument to suggest that the Red Devils are better with their iconic number seven than they are without.
Nevertheless, with Ten Hag clearly demanding his team press from the front and fight hard together, seeing Ronaldo, who is always one of a game’s hardest-working players, line up for his fourth consequently start wouldn’t come as a surprise.
