Mr Thursday Night: Ronaldo's status as a Europa League player confirmed
Karan Tejwani
- 26 Oct 2022 12:45 BST
- 4 min read
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will return to the squad for his side’s penultimate Europa League group stage game against Sheriff Tiraspol.
The Portuguese missed Manchester United’s last match against Chelsea in the Premier League having been suspended from the first-team by his manager, having refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham last Wednesday and leaving Old Trafford early.
Now, he’s set for a return to the squad, with Ten Hag previously stating that he is counting on Ronaldo for the rest of the season, and expects him to see out his contract, which expires at the end of the campaign.
READ: Cristiano Ronaldo: Why Sporting CP return is impossible
Amidst all this, considering this season so far and Ten Hag’s plans and selection, one thing is becoming clear: Ronaldo is no longer a Premier League starter for him. He may well have become his Europa League man.
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So far this season, Ronaldo has started more Europa League matches than Premier League matches, as Ten Hag saves his best players and attacking line for the English top-flight.
When he has started Premier League games – against Brentford and Newcastle – he impressed in neither, with the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford showing that they were better suited to Ten Hag’s quick style of play.
READ: Red Bull Salzburg brutally MOCK Cristiano Ronaldo
Even though Martial and Rashford have never had the same prolific nature that Ronaldo did at his best, their directness, speed and movement off the ball is better suited to this Manchester United attack and that is what Ten Hag wants from his team.
Barring the Premier League match against Everton, where Ronaldo came on as a substitute and scored the winner, the Portuguese icon has rarely impressed for the Red Devils and the coach’s decision to lower his standing in the pecking order has been justified.
Even in the Europa League, Ronaldo has rarely impressed, scoring just one goal all competition – from the penalty spot against Omonoia – and that has shown why Ten Hag prefers to start others. What he lacked in work off the ball, Ronaldo made up for in goals, but even those have dried up lately.
🗣️ "I don't have to do it anymore."
Erik ten Hag confirms Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Manchester United's squad for Thursday's Europa League game against Sheriff Tiraspol ✅ pic.twitter.com/73DKIIPyZe— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 26, 2022
His performance from the off against Newcastle was hardly inspiring, and it has been noted in the past that others in the squad – including Bruno Fernandes and Antony – perform better without him, as evident from the controlled team display in the 2-0 win over Tottenham last Wednesday.
It’s no shame, time catches up to every athlete and it’s probably come around for Ronaldo. He’s had a career most can only dream of, but this is now the reality. He’s no longer of the level that top teams require, he’s a hard sell, and for Ten Hag, he’s only able to start Europa League matches for him, leaving valuable league games to others.
