Mike Phelan has recalled his experience of coaching Al Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo for the second time after the Manchester United legend returned to Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo made a name for himself during his first spell at the Premier League club after Sir Alex Ferguson signed him from Sporting CP in 2003.
Mike Phelan was a first-team Manchester United coach under Sir Alex Ferguson before he became assistant manager under the legendary 82-year-old Scotsman.
The ex-United first-team coach watched first-hand as Ronaldo announced himself on the world stage before he left the Red Devils and signed for Real Madrid in 2009.
Phelan would return to Old Trafford when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became caretaker boss and he would later become assistant manager under the United legend.
Phelan’s message to Man Utd legend Ronaldo
During Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign at Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo made his sensational return to Old Trafford in 2021 after he was signed from Juventus.
Ronaldo had a stunning impact in his first season back at the Red Devils, with the United legend scoring 24 times in 39 appearances across all competitions.
However, Solskjaer’s reign at Old Trafford came to an end in the 2021-22 season, but Ronaldo continued to play under former United interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
Speaking to The Athletic, Mike Phelan revealed that he ‘appealed’ to Ronaldo’s “strong mentality” and “applied” the same message to him during both spells.
“When Ronaldo returned, the buzz was unreal – supporters, players,” he said.
“What he brought back with him was a different playing style. Ronaldo is a goalscorer.
“He was driven by his outstanding ability to change a game. Everything was great. And then things change from the point of view of his ambition.
“From the first time (Ronaldo was at United), when I was a coach, I just fine-tuned certain things. I tried to appeal to his strong mentality – ‘These moments are yours.’ I applied that the second time around.
“You didn’t coach Cristiano to be a better player. All I was doing was reinforcing his belief that special players find a way.”
Phelan talks Man Utd legend Ronaldo
Ronaldo’s second spell would come to an abrupt end in 2022 after his falling out with Erik ten Hag, who replaced Solskjaer as United manager at Old Trafford.
The 39-year-old fell down the pecking order under Ten Hag and criticised the Dutchman – among many other issues – in his interview with Piers Morgan.
Ronaldo’s contract with United was terminated by mutual agreement in 2022 before the Portuguese forward completed a sensational move to Al Nassr in 2023.
Phelan insisted that Real Madrid and United legend Ronaldo “never” overstepped his “boundaries” while working alongside him for the second time.
“I was rubbing his ego a little bit. But he delivered. He was older, wiser and set high standards – sometimes standards others couldn’t keep to,” he added.
“We can all look back in hindsight, and I think Ole has commented on it, how that dynamic might have changed. But if you wanted someone to produce something, he did it. I honestly never thought Cristiano stepped over boundaries.”
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