Varun Pai
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hits back at critics of Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Man City game
Speaking in his pre-match press conference (h/t Daily Mail), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit back the critics of Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the derby against Man City.
There were doubts whether the 36-year-old could adjust to the pace and the physicality of the Premier League when he re-signed for the Old Trafford outfit in the summer transfer window.
Those concerns have been squashed as the Portuguese international looks faster, stronger, and more lethal with every passing game. He has already scored a couple of match-winners this season, not to mention the majestic brace against Atalanta in mid-week. 9 goals in 11 games does not do justice to how many times Ronaldo has dug us out of a hole this season.
Despite such performances, there has been some commotion about his lack of defensive responsibilities and inability to press from the front. Solskjaer was left bemused over these claims and hailed the former Juventus man as a top professional ahead of the Manchester derby.
‘He’s (Ronaldo) one of the best players that have ever walked on this planet. His impact on and off the pitch has been absolutely immense and the way he conducts himself.
‘How people can say that as a negative I can’t see that one. He scores goals works for his team, and is a top, top professional.’
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The centre-forward may have his restraints, but his positives have always outweighed the negatives. On Saturday, he could hit back at his critics as United take on Man City, in what could definitely be an end-to-end game.
Ronaldo is a phenomenon, but he will need to show up in what is perhaps the biggest game of the season for his gaffer, given the amount of pressure he has been under since losing to Liverpool.
