Cristiano Ronaldo needs to step up and be the superstar he still believes he is

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester United’s preparations for this week’s clash with Real Sociedad have been impacted by injury.

Antony and Jadon Sancho missed training on Wednesday and did not travel, and neither did Anthony Martial, leaving United with a depleted set of forward options.

Marcus Rashford is the one player United can rely on right now. Anthony Elanga and Alejandro Garnacho are two inexperienced players United can use, but would rather not rely on to contribute to win a game of this magnitude, amid a need to win by two clear goals to finish top.

Fortunately United still have Cristiano Ronaldo. But which Cristiano Ronaldo is it? The player who once tore every opponent he faced apart, or the one who is a shadow of his former self?

Ronaldo needs to step up

Ronaldo quite clearly is not the player he once was, but he is still capable of delivering big performances. Now with the lights shining bright, and United leaning on him, looking for goals, it is time for him to step up.

This could be the high-pressure game Ronaldo needs. He has been waiting for a chance to really prove his importance to the team, that he is not just an afterthought in Erik ten Hag’s plans.

He has the opportunity on Thursday night, and it is time for him to step up and show he is still the player he thinks he is.

Part of Ronaldo’s struggles this season has seemingly been a reluctance to accept his current situation, that he is no longer a must-start.

He is United’s highest paid player, with an insane eye-watering salary most mere mortals could only dream of, let alone the average footballer.

This also held him back from finding another club in the summer. He could have dropped his wage demands to move elsewhere – but he still regards himself as a player who should be earning a premium salary.

Ronaldo’s performances this season don’t stack up with his hefty pay packet. He has scored only three goals, two of which came against Sheriff Tiraspol, in games United were already winning.

Last season Ronaldo was decisive, scoring game changing goals with regularity. This season he has only really made an impact in the win over Everton, scoring the winner. This was a clinical strike which shows he has still ‘got it’.

United need more of this on Thursday. Ronaldo needs it too. He still believes he is a superstar, so this is the time to show it, and prove to the world that when his team needs him, he can make the difference.