Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag (L) directs substitute Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on August 27, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
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.”
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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.
