Cristiano Ronaldo started Manchester United’s game with Chelsea on the bench.
This was just the second time Ronaldo had been left out of the Premier League starting line-up since he arrived.
Ronaldo will have to win over incoming interim boss Ralf Rangnick when he arrives, who will likely implement a high pressing style.
Former Spartak Moscow midfielder Maxim Kalinichenko believes the Ronaldo and Rangnick partnership is going to be either disastrous, or incredible.
Speaking to Championat, Kalinichenko warned: “I don’t even know who I feel more sorry for, Rangnick, who will try to build his favorite pressure, or Cristiano Ronaldo, who is simply an outsider in this very component.”
Challenge for Ronaldo
Kalinichenko added that if Ronaldo buys into Rangnick’s way of playing, it will make him an even better footballer.
He explained: “It’s very interesting how Rangnick will get out of this stalemate. Putting Ronaldo in the lineup, the whole system and all the work in the cycle will collapse. Do not deliver, you get an angry star and a mess in the locker room.
“Well, there is another, fantastic scenario in which Cristiano will begin to do everything that the German says. Then I will definitely say that Ronaldo is better than Messi.”
Ronaldo has been battling to be regarded as the best, and better than Messi, his whole career. Many believe he has and is achieving it.
The United forward is always looking for an extra edge, and a way to improve, and it is a valuable point to make that if he listens to Rangnick and is able to change his game for the better, then he will improve considerably and prolong his career.
The main question is whether Ronaldo, at 36, is able to exert himself to change his game into a more high-energy style, or willing to. He may have to if he wants to get on Rangnick’s good side.
It is also down to Rangnick to create a game plan which gets the most out of one of the world’s best footballers, but the manager holds more power. The situation will require some compromise from both men if it is going to work.
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