For all of Cristiano Ronaldo‘s impressive individual feats last season in which he scored 24 goals for Manchester United, he was not part of a good team.
Ronaldo thrived despite United playing poorly, and this season new manager Erik ten Hag is trying to find the right balance, of a side which plays for each other while expressing individual quality.
So far Ronaldo has only scored twice this season, but there is a long way to go, and Manchester United are looking far stronger under Ten Hag, and the pieces are beginning to click into place.
There has been some encouragement too with a budding connection between Marcus Rashford and Ronaldo beginning to click, in a way the pair simply didn’t last season.
Rashford and Ronaldo are beginning to show a connection
Last season Rashford and Ronaldo looked like two individuals playing in the same team, rarely looking like actual teammates.
Perhaps this was Rashford being in awe of the number 7, but it can be pinpointed simply at the door of the England international’s own poor form, and dismal management.
This season, the pair are beginning to look a little more in-tune with one another.
We saw this on Thursday night when Rashford scored United’s third goal against Omonia, pouncing on a Ronaldo shot he mis-hit, converting for the winning goal.
While Ronaldo likely did not intend to assist, Rashford anticipated where the ball was going. Last season he would not even have followed it up and Ronaldo’s effort would have drifted wide.
Rashford attempted to repay Ronaldo late in the game in Cyprus, passing to his teammate when he was better positioned to shoot. Ronaldo did not score in this game, but on another night he would have done, with Rashford creating three chances, two of which were for the number 7.
Ronaldo did find the scoresheet against Everton, and Rashford was first on the scene to celebrate alongside him.
He made a point of congratulating him on the goal on social media, even shortening his name to just ‘Cris’, a sign of a growing personal connection between the pair.
Rashford had the ball in the back of the net late against Everton, only for it to be harshly ruled out for handball.
The key to Rashford’s ‘strike’ was Ronaldo, who won the ball back to start United’s move, and won the header to release the number 10 through on goal.
This showed an understanding between the pair, with Ronaldo anticipating Rashford’s movement, illustrating how well he is beginning to contribute to the team when he is not scoring.
The signs between Rashford and Ronaldo look positive, and it is just as well, with Anthony Martial suffering an injury, again, and Jadon Sancho dropped from the side on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag will keep pushing the pair, and no doubt will be pleased by the signs of a potentially productive partnership.
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