(Video) Gary Neville analyses Weghorst’s contributions to United in comparison with Ronaldo

Gary Neville has analysed Wout Weghorst’s impact on the pitch in comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Weghorst was signed on loan in the January transfer window as a stop-gap signing until Erik ten Hag is granted the funds to acquire a permanent centre-forward in the summer.

A striker was crucial, as Ronaldo had reached an agreement with Manchester United to terminate his contract prematurely in November, leaving just the injury-prone Anthony Martial to lead the line.

Things haven’t been too exciting with Weghorst leading the line though. Since his arrival, he has contributed just two goals and one assist – numbers that aren’t exactly ideal for your No.9, especially when he has started every game.

Neville on Weghorst vs Ronaldo

However, Neville believes that the Dutchman’s impact on the squad is better than Ronaldo’s. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “This is going to be quite provocative and there’s no meaning behind it in respect to what I’m saying, but the reason that Weghorst continues to play and that Erik ten Hag picks him, and the reason Ronaldo’s no longer at the club, we’re looking at Weghorst’s last 19 starts versus Ronaldo’s last 19 starts…”

Statistics provided by Sky Sports.

“He’s [Weghorst] only scored two goals but the team have scored 37 goals. If you look at Cristiano Ronaldo, 19 starts, they’ve obviously won three less games, drawn three, they’ve lost four more with Cristiano in the team. He’s scored 11, but the team itself, you’ve just mentioned it’s not about scoring goals it’s about doing the other things, the team itself have only scored 23. They are massive differences.

“It’s just the strangeness and the oddities of football, that you can have a player in the team who quite clearly isn’t good enough to be a Manchester United centre forward, but actually has brought more profit to the team overall in terms of wins, less defeats, more goals overall, and it is a bit provocative that.”

Footage courtesy of Sky Sports.

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