When Cristiano Ronaldo re-signed for Manchester United, hopes were high. We were still all kidding ourselves into a title challenge, and there were four trophies on the table up for grabs.
Already by the end of Ronaldo’s first month back as United player, the situation was not looking so promising in the league after a loss to Villa, and strikingly the number of possible trophies had gone down to three.
Ronaldo was not even on the bench as United were beaten at home to West Ham, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer resting him. The end result was a 1-0 home loss and one of United’s easiest routes to silverware going begging without even giving the iconic number 7 a kick.
United can’t make that mistake again
Early elimination from the cup was one of the many contributory factors which led to Solskjaer’s sacking. Now as the FA Cup comes back around, the club cannot make the same mistake again.
The FA Cup is now one of just two available trophies to United this season. The league is already out of reach, with the team slumping to seventh place.
Ronaldo is United’s best bet of success, with the 36-year-old netting 14 goals already this season, 12 of which have come from open play.
Even amid a stretch of indifferent team form, where no players’ place should be safe, leaving out Ronaldo for this match should not even be considered.
Ronaldo is the player you don’t want to leave out of a knockout cup game. He has the character to step up when his team needs him most.
United don’t want to be left wondering ‘what if’ like they were after the West Ham defeat in September. What if the manager had taken the game more seriously and played Ronaldo? Leave your best players out and usually the team will pay.
Consider the backdrop that United’s poor league form could prompt Ronaldo to look elsewhere in the summer so he can play Champions League football, and the Red Devils absolutely have to make the most of him right now.
Losing with Ronaldo would be one thing, but losing the game while leaving him out would be even more disastrous.
Hopefully Ralf Rangnick is more sensible than Solskjaer was earlier in the season and has Ronaldo leading the line tonight.
- Man Utd are looking to ensure that 2026’s biggest priority is no longer a transfer problem in 2031
- After Ruben Amorim tried to kill it, Man Utd’s attacking DNA is returning with seven exciting wingers
- Every Man Utd player with a connection to Inter Miami after Casemiro deal
- Man Utd signing Aurelien Tchouameni or Eduardo Camavinga now relies on a Man City decision
- Man Utd’s disregard for loyal fans proves Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs were right
- Manchester United’s blue 26/27 away kit is a good omen for winning European trophies
- Who is Karim Cassim? Man Utd sign JJ Gabriel’s England youth international teammate
- Three players can make their first Man Utd appearance vs Rosenborg, JJ Gabriel leads the way
- Manchester United fans send message to Ineos after £4m Tynan Thompson deal is confirmed
- Who is David Eze? Man Utd’s new wonderkid signing who snubbed Arsenal and was poached from Man City
- Warren Zaire-Emery has already called one Man Utd player ‘great’ amid rumours he could join Michael Carrick
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
