Speaking at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, Cristiano Ronaldo expressed once more his worries about his old team, Manchester United. Emphasizing that changing managers by themselves cannot cure structural and systemic problems, the Portuguese legend who served two stints at Old Trafford offered a harsh appraisal of the club.
Systemic Issues Outside of Coachability
Ronaldo offered a comparison to clarify his viewpoint on Manchester United’s continuous challenges during the event:
It reminds me of the aquarium. Should the fish you have inside be sick, you remove them, address the issue, and then place them back in the aquarium; they will once again be sick. And Manchester United’s dilemma is this as well. It goes way beyond just the coach.
Ronaldo firmly feels that the environment and structure of Manchester United reflect the fundamental issues inside the team. Clearly, he said when asked whether these problems still exist: “A hundred percent.”
Vision of Ronaldo as a Club Owner
Ronaldo alluded about his dreams of running a football team in the future, even implying he would eventually run Manchester United. “If I were the owner of the club, I would clear things and change to what I think is bad there,” he stated.
Ronaldo said he was confident he could solve these structural problems if given the time, even while he admitted his present concentration on playing:
“I have many ambitions and ideas ahead; I am still quite young. Mark my words: I absolutely will be the proprietor of a large club.
Positive comments about Real Madrid
Unlike his complaints about Manchester United, Ronaldo praised Real Madrid, where he spent the most successful years of his career. Regarding their Champions League chances, he said: “Bet on Real Madrid if you choose to gamble on a club in the Champions League. Though they are presently ahead of Barcelona, most did not anticipate Real Madrid to be good at first.
Ronaldo also underlined the unsettling ambiance of the Santiago Bernabéu:
Teams are reluctant to perform in the Bernabéu. It radiates something unique.
An Opposing Viewpoint
Ronaldo’s remarks have sparked discussions about Manchester United’s long-standing problems once more. Although his comparison of the “sick fish” has attracted attention, it also emphasizes the difficulty of resolving structural problems in football teams.
Ronaldo is still developing his career with Al-Nassr, where he has excelled; his opinions about his prior teams provide insightful analysis of the dynamics of contemporary football and the difficulties elite teams have preserving success.
