Manchester United’s re-signing of Cristiano Ronaldo was an unthinkable – a spectacular return to a club with a proven winner and a swagger of guaranteed goals. But is it any more complicated than that? Is the presence of the Portuguese superstar at the center of the attack helping or hindering the team that has started the season in a bad light? United prepare for a Champions League match against Atalanta on Tuesday after a morale-boosting 3-0 win over Tottenham that helped ease pressure on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Liverpool’s 5-0 win . Ronaldo will go high in the match after ending a short drought in the league, scoring a superb volley and setting up Edinson Cavani for United’s second.
His Premier League comeback so far has been solid rather than spectacular by his own standards – four goals in seven Premier League appearances – less than half of Mohamed Salah’s 10 for Liverpool.
But they have made a difference in the Champions League, twice against dramatic late winners, Villarreal and Atalanta, to propel United to the top of Group F.
Despite his goals, Ronaldo has been criticized for his lack of defensive work in a team that has kept just two clean sheets throughout the season.
There have been indications that some of his teammates at previous club Juventus felt the same way, but the former Real Madrid player says he will silence his accusers.
He told Sky Sports, “I know the team needs my help defensively. But my role at the club is to win, help the team win and score goals – (the defensive side) is part of my job.
“People who don’t want to see this because they don’t like me, but to be honest I’m 36, I win everything so am I going to worry about people saying bad things about me? Are?
“I get a good night’s sleep. I go to my bed very well with my conscience. Keep going with it because I’ll still win things with my mouth shut.”
attack on blueprint
Ronaldo’s return to United appears to be on the verge of joining rivals Manchester City, forcing Solskjaer to rewrite his attacking blueprint.
The arrival of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has limited chances for fellow veteran striker Cavani, who impressed in his first season at Old Trafford last year.
Jadon Sancho, who sealed a much-anticipated big-money switch from Borussia Dortmund in July, has barely made an impact, yet without any assists or goals.
And attacker Marcus Rashford and 20-year-old Mason Greenwood were forced to accommodate two in front of Ronaldo and Cavani in Saturday’s match at Tottenham – the first time they have been linked together from the start.
After the win at Tottenham, Solskjaer spoke about the value of experience and how he definitely needs his big players to step up to his position.
Ronaldo is a serial winner but it remains to be seen whether he can prove the difference in a United team that lacks identity and solidarity.
The Portuguese superstar won the Champions League and three Premier League titles in his first spell at Old Trafford under Alex Ferguson.
He followed up with silverware, including four more Champions League titles at Real Madrid and collected two Serie A titles with Juventus.
But even Ronaldo does not guarantee success.
In their three seasons in Turin, Juve never made it past the Champions League quarter-finals and Inter Milan also ended Juventus’ nine-year hold on Serie A last season.
Ronaldo is not the tough winger he was in his earlier years, becoming an out-and-out striker, but he still has the ability to conjure up moments of magic.
One thing hasn’t changed in his two decades at the top – it’s impossible to ignore him.
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