Highlights:
Ronaldo was quick to make an impact with Manchester United
Red Devils’ manager Solskjaer said Ronaldo will not play every game
The 36 year old Portugal star began his first Premier League game back, however, his manager said that he will have to be careful with Ronaldo’s workload. Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Cristiano Ronaldo will not be playing every game for the Red Devils as he looks to manage the forward’s minutes.
Ronaldo got off to a flying start with a brace against Newcastle United on his second debut for the club, showing that it could be difficult for Solskjaer to leave him out of his lineup.
However, the Norwegian insisted that there will be some games that Ronaldo will skip as he looks to keep the 36-year-old fresh.
Solskjaer was asked if it will be impossible to leave Ronaldo out after his double at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Red Devils’ head coach said, “The thing with Cristiano is that he looks after himself so much so I know he will recover quickly and he has had a pre-season,” and added, “Of course it’s important that we get everyone up and running and to get him up and running and to give him 90 minutes.
“Of course there is a game on Tuesday (against Young Boys). We will see what we do. But no, it’s not impossible to leave him out. He is 36, Mason (Greenwood) is 19, so it’s the same, I have to manage his minutes, and I have to manage a 36-year-old’s minutes as well.”
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The Portugal international who also has won 5 Ballon d’Or, has been back at the club’s Carrington training base for just a week, however, his arrival has already forced some United players to raise their standards.
Solskjaer said, “The more quality you add to the group and the more healthy competition and leaders who they look up to.
“I think seeing Raphael (Varane) and Cristiano coming it’s raised everyone’s eyebrows because they are winners, they have won everything there is to win and they put demands on themselves which the young boys, the rest of the team, they look at them and think: ‘That is how you stay at the top.’
“So it is only going to be good for everyone and there is competition for places which is great for me to see.”
The squad will now fly to Switzerland on Monday ahead of their first UEFA Champions League fixture of the season. They play Young Boys on Tuesday at 10:15 PM (IST) in their opening game of Group F.
If Ronaldo plays the match he would equal the all-time Champions League appearance record level set by his former Real Madrid teammate Iker Casillas of 177 matches.