By Martin Graham | 28th Dec 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo, a legendary figure at Manchester United, has spoken candidly about his former club’s ongoing challenges while standing by Ruben Amorim, who has faced a tough start as the team’s new head coach.
A rocky start for Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim, the former Sporting CP manager and Ronaldo’s compatriot, took the reins at Old Trafford in November. However, the early results have been far from ideal. With five losses in his first ten matches, Amorim has recorded the club’s poorest managerial debut in nearly a century.
Ronaldo, speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, emphasized the enormity of the challenge Amorim inherited. He highlighted the club’s extended period of underachievement, contrasting it with the success of his own first stint at United under Sir Alex Ferguson. During that golden era, Ronaldo secured nine major trophies and the prestigious 2008 Ballon d’Or.
Amorim’s task has not been made easier by United’s current league position. Despite six weeks under his leadership, the team remains stuck in 14th place, where they were when Erik ten Hag was dismissed earlier this season.
Ronaldo’s support for Amorim
Ronaldo offered words of encouragement for Amorim, drawing on the manager’s previous successes. “He did a fantastic job in Portugal with Sporting,” Ronaldo remarked. “I knew it would be difficult, but storms don’t last forever. The sun will shine again.”
The Portuguese forward also defended the competitiveness of the Premier League, describing it as the toughest league in the world. He noted that every team presents a formidable challenge, making success far from straightforward.
Diagnosing United’s problems
Ronaldo didn’t hold back in assessing the deeper issues at Manchester United. Drawing an unusual analogy, he likened the club’s struggles to an aquarium with a sick fish. “If the fish is sick and you take it out to fix it, but put it back in the same environment, it will get sick again,” he explained, suggesting systemic problems that go beyond coaching changes.
Reflecting on his own turbulent second spell at the club, which ended after a public clash with Ten Hag, Ronaldo underscored that the root of United’s troubles extends far beyond the dugout.
While still active in Saudi Arabia’s top league, Ronaldo hinted at his potential interest in shaping the club’s future off the pitch. “If I were the owner of the club, I would make things clear and fix what’s wrong,” he declared, though he stopped short of revealing specific solutions.
For now, Manchester United’s struggles persist, leaving Amorim with the formidable task of steering the team toward better days.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
MFF
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