Premier League

Comment on Cristiano Ronaldo: Everything broken

Published

1 year ago

October 21, 2022

Comment on Cristiano Ronaldo: Everything broken

Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension from Manchester United is the inglorious culmination of a partnership long doomed to fail. However, the only culprit is the 37-year-old, who not only sabotages his club and Portugal’s World Cup chances with his behavior – but also his future as a footballer. FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, deserve a compliment. A comment.

Those involved have known for a long time that things could not go well with Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United this season. One can perhaps still argue about the exact date: since July 1, when Erik ten Hag was presented as a new coach who was supposed to turn the club completely inside out and in whose concept a 37-year-old striker didn’t fit at all? Or since spring when United failed to qualify for the Champions League?

At least since September 1, when it was clear that CR7 would not leave the Red Devils before the transfer window closed. The superstar had already made several public missteps and it had become clear that under ten Hag it would always be enough for the joker role.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo stayed in Manchester, although consultant mogul Jorge Mendes had desperately offered him to all top European clubs. Like an aging Siemens washing machine on eBay classifieds: “Okay, it already has slight signs of wear and doesn’t spin as many times as it used to, but it was a multiple test winner! And the brand really makes a difference.”

But because no one took the bait, the Portuguese and the Red Devils were forced to remain partners, at least until the winter transfer window opened on January 1. And now, after the inglorious departure during the 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening, only one bitter conclusion remains: Ronaldo ruined everything.

He only had to hold out for 25 days.

Next scandal: The long list of Ronaldo’s antics at United

1/19

Cristiano Ronaldo caused trouble in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur – not for the first time in months. A review.

2/19

APRIL 2022: After United’s 1-0 loss to Everton, CR7 smashed a fan’s mobile phone. This emerged from a recording, presumably from a trailer. There you could see how Ronaldo throws his mobile phone on the ground when leaving the field.

3/19

United investigated the incident, and Merseyside Police also investigated. Manchester had not been able to convince again at Goodison Park. At that point United had just one win from their last five Premier League games.

4/19

CR7 apologized for his freak out. “I would like to apologize for my outburst and, if possible, invite this fan to watch a game at Old Trafford as a show of fair play and sportsmanship,” he wrote on Instagram.

5/19

But Jake’s mother, as the fan was called, declined the invitation: “We politely declined the offer to go to a United game because Jake doesn’t want to go there and he doesn’t want to see Ronaldo either,” said them at the Liverpool Echo.

6/19

And further: “If someone had attacked him on the street and then invited us to dinner, we wouldn’t go either. Why should we do that now just because it’s Cristiano Ronaldo?”

7/19

In October, the Liverpool Echo wrote that Ronaldo had accepted the English FA’s misconduct charge. However, he would defend himself against a suspension. “He won’t accept it,” said Ten Hag. exit open.

8/19

AUGUST 2022: Ronaldo, who is willing to make a change, played his first game for United in twelve weeks in the preparatory game against Rayo Vallecano (1-1). However, pictures on social networks showed CR7 leaving the stadium during the game.

9/19

The Spanish Mundo Deportivo claims to have learned the reason for this: Ronaldo wanted to escape the press so as not to have to talk about his behavior in the previous weeks. He had previously missed the preparation tour to Thailand and Australia.

10/19

Officially, this was for personal reasons. On his return, he arrived at the club with his agent Jorge Mendes, who was believed to be trying to persuade club bosses to leave.

11/19

“I’m happy to be back,” the 37-year-old tweeted after the game against Rayo, despite a warm welcome from United fans. “That’s unacceptable. For everyone,” said Ten Hag, but publicly defended CR7 shortly afterwards.

12/19

AUGUST 2022: Less than three weeks later, the next irritation – Ronaldo caused new discussions with his departure after the 0: 4 swatter at FC Brentford. The Portuguese became the first United player to disappear into the stadium’s catacombs.

13/19

He also decided against thanking the supporters who had traveled with him – and this after assistant coach Steven McClaren had expressly asked him to do so. Both delivered a short battle of words, then Ronaldo stomped towards the dressing room.

14/19

On his way to the dressing room, the visibly frustrated Ronaldo also passed United manager Erik ten Hag. Neither looked at each other, nor was there a high five.

15/19

The reason for Ronaldo’s frustration: United had previously suffered their second defeat in their second game and were 4-0 down after just 35 minutes. The record champions of the Premier League were last. After all, CR7 was back in the starting XI in Brentford.

16/19

OCTOBER 2022: The latest escapade happened on Wednesday evening. After Ronaldo was again only on the bench against Spurs, he rushed into the dressing room before the final whistle – although United could have made two more substitutions.

17/19

Ten Hag explained: “I didn’t pay attention to that. We’ll take care of it tomorrow. Today the focus was on a great performance from the whole team.” Under the coach, CR7 has now degenerated into a substitute.

18/19

It fits: The Athletic reports that Ronaldo also left the stadium before the final whistle. His absence wasn’t really registered in the dressing room because the 2-0 win was celebrated there.

19/19

In 10 PL games, CR7 was on the pitch for more than 90 minutes. A farewell in winter is therefore more likely, also because there has probably been a change of heart at ten Hag and he is said to be anything but satisfied with Ronaldo.

Ronaldo at Manchester United: where is the model professional?

Ronaldo is obsessed – in a good way. Obsessed with victories, with titles, with goals – perhaps with the latter most of all. That made him the top scorer in history. Legends have grown up around his eagerness to work and his discipline off the pitch. He still wants to play and score until the EM 2024 – at least.

He should have tapped into this unique self-discipline in the past two months: Change fell through, United are not playing for the big titles – even if they do! Since September 1st it’s all about the World Cup in Qatar. For the one big title that is still missing.

Ergo: keep your feet still, focus body and mind fully on the upcoming tournament and get in the best possible shape. The fact of not playing through 90 minutes twice a week until mid-November could even have turned out to be a “luck in disguise”. And it would have looked good on his legacy: CR7 the team player who gives everything even without a regular place and premier class.

From his point of view, he should have put on a good face to the bad game before the World Cup. To be more precise: Until the away game at Fulham on November 13th, 25 days after the Spurs game. In less than four weeks, the cards would have been reshuffled. What’s four weeks in a 20-year career?

Ronaldo is sabotaging Portugal’s World Cup chances – and its future

Now Ronaldo could face the worst days of his career instead. United rightly suspended him, ten Hag confirmed on Friday that Ronaldo refused to come on, and his “non-apology” via Instagram did not exactly suggest insight. It is now completely open that he will play for his club again before leaving for Qatar – good preparation for the World Cup looks different. And that’s not all:

Manchester United’s upward trend is overshadowed, players and coaches cannot concentrate on the sport.
He has damaged his image with United fans – and football fans in general.
For his Portuguese team-mates, too, the CR7 headlines are unwelcome distractions with Qatar in mind.

And: The consequences for the time after the World Cup are not yet foreseeable. Despite everything, Ronaldo may be playing a strong World Cup with Portugal. It would have been his best argument for a move to a Champions League club in winter. But who wants him now? The model professional has become an impulsive, grumpy enfant terrible. Which top team does that voluntarily?

At this point, a compliment goes to FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Both teams could have signed Ronaldo in the summer – and both could have found good reasons, following Robert Lewandowski’s departure and Sébastien Haller’s tragic illness. They wisely canceled. Such a CR7 does not make a good team better.

And, as a look at Manchester shows: not even a mediocre one anymore.