Solskjaer intervention stopped ‘livid’ Ronaldo storming off again

Joe Williams
Cristiano Ronaldo puts his hand over his face

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had to stop Cristiano Ronaldo from storming off down the tunnel for a second game in a row, according to reports.

The Red Devils made it three matches without a Premier League victory as they lost 4-2 to Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Youri Tielemans and Caglar Soyuncu gave the Foxes a 2-1 lead before Marcus Rashford equalised with only eight minutes left on the clock.

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However, late goals from Jamie Vardy and substitute Patson Daka gave Brendan Rodgers’ men an important victory.

The result will have been frustrating for the Man Utd squad but Ronaldo reportedly took it particularly badly.

Manchester Evening News journalist Tyrone Marshall claimed that Ronaldo ‘headed straight for the tunnel again at full-time, before Solskjaer pointed to the away end’.

Marshall added that the Portugal international – who has scored five goals in all competitions so far this season – looked ‘livid again and you can’t blame him’.

After being left on the bench in their 1-1 draw against Everton before the international break, Ronaldo stormed off down the tunnel without shaking hands with anyone or acknowledging the supporters.

Speaking after the match against the Toffees a fortnight ago, Gary Neville criticised Ronaldo’s actions and suggested it put unecessary pressure on Solskjaer.

Neville told Sky Sports: “I watched the game and I watched him walk off. I can’t say I like it.

“Is Cristiano upset when he doesn’t play? Yes. If he upset when he doesn’t score? Yes. Is Cristiano annoyed as hell when the team doesn’t win? Of course. We know these things, he doesn’t need to prove that.

“He walked off the pitch muttering to himself which in some ways throws the questions up in the air. ‘What’s he saying? Who’s he annoyed with?’ And it can only come back to the manager.

“So I do think actions like that – Ronaldo is smart enough to know – will bring real pressure, more pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

“It is what it is but I think that has to be managed in the next couple of months. Cristiano won’t always score and can’t play ever single game, but I think if he’s going to walk off like that it’s going to put immense pressure on Ole.

“There’s no doubt the talk after the game was about the manager.”

 

Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo

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