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Erik ten Hag reacts to ‘phenomenal’ Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo after 700-goal milestone
Erik ten Hag has hailed Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese scored his 700th club career goal. The 37-year-old beat Jordan Pickford to reach the milestone.
United travelled to Goodison Park on 9 October in the Premier League. It was a tight game against the Toffees. However, we managed to get the three points thanks to goals from summer 2022 signing Antony and Ronaldo.
The Portugal international started on the bench, as he has been for most of the season, against Frank Lampard’s team. Anthony Martial was withdrawn just before the half-hour mark and replaced by the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
It was 1-1 at that point. But fortunately, Ronaldo proved to be the difference maker. After Casemiro won the ball in the midfield, he played the 37-year-old in behind the Everton defence, resulting in the Red Devils taking the lead.
Apart from being a landmark moment in Ronaldo’s career, it was also his first goal of the 2022/23 league campaign. The Portuguese has struggled to find the back of the net this season.
When asked about Ronaldo hitting the 700-goal milestone, Ten Hag told club media (h/t Manchester Evening News) that it was “phenomenal”. However, he also suggested that the team had a role to play in it as well.
“It’s phenomenal. And football is [about the] team and we express this in a way – I think Cristiano, he knows we can’t do it without the team but I must say it’s a huge individual performance.
“If you achieve this, it’s incredible. 700 goals for a club and not many players even achieve 700 games, and he scored 700 goals.”
Ronaldo has had a rather underwhelming season considering the standards he has set over the years. The 37-year-old was United’s top goalscorer in all competitions in the 2021/22 campaign.
However, the new gaffer has preferred the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in the number nine position. And the two have repaid the faith the manager has put in them.
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Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of our generation. Fans hope the Portuguese legend is able to bounce back and score more goals for the Red Devils over the course of the season.
