After scoring his first goal of the season, United manager Erik ten Hag reiterated that Cristiano Ronaldo is “fully committed to this project”.
Manchester United has reported back after the opening defeat against Real Sociedad in the Europa League. The Red Devils won 2-0 at Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday night. was in the starting XI and entered the scorer list. Coach Erik ten Hag then explained that CR7 was fully committed to the Man United project.
Cristiano Ronaldo was only the third time he started Manchester United this season. The superstar scored his first goal of the season against Sheriff. CR7 made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Jadon Sancho put the Red Devils ahead.
His goal should have been some balm on the 37-year-old Portuguese’s soul. Everyone knows that Ronaldo would have preferred to leave Man United again in the summer to play elsewhere in the Champions League. But nothing came of it – also because there seemed to be a lack of serious buyer candidates.
The attacker then had a difficult start under the new United coach Erik ten Hag. Because of private problems, Ronaldo missed large parts of the summer preparation. Accordingly, ten Hag has so far mostly relied on other personnel – Ronaldo had to be content with the joker role. A circumstance that the superstar does not know at all from his previous career.
More fitness = more goals: Ronaldo on the way back to regular?
“I’ll be his friend and sometimes I’ll be his teacher,” ten Hag said of Ronaldo earlier this month. And made it clear that it takes a certain level of fitness to start with him.
In this regard, the Dutchman acknowledged his star striker’s progress: “He’s really close, if he gets more fitness, he’ll score more goals,” said ten Hag of Ronaldo after the game. And then added an important sentence: “He is fully committed to this project.”
It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo actually sees it that way. The fact is that he will and must continue to play for the Red Devils for the time being. If the positive trend under ten Hag can be continued and CR7 will soon start regularly again, it cannot be ruled out that the mood will turn completely positive.
His first goal of the season could have been an important step. “Ronaldo needed that goal. He was close many times, but he wanted it so badly. We’re happy for him and the team wanted to give him a goal,” said ten Hag.
All about Man United at 90min:
This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
