Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United this summer sparked a lot of excitement among fans.
He has scored a few key goals, but pundits have started raising eyebrows on whether the team is better off without him.
The prodigal son, now 36, returned from Juventus this summer in one of the Premier League’s most high-profile signings, just days after it appeared he was about to join rivals Manchester City.
However, despite scoring four goals in his first three games, he has only scored two in his following six – both against Villarreal and Atalanta, and both were late Champions League winners.
United’s style of play has changed to accommodate the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
‘Not Exeptional By His High Standards’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under immense pressure, with his team seeming further away from the top than ever following a 5-0 home defeat by Liverpool.
A teammate from the past Former Liverpool and Scotland captain Graeme Souness does not believe he should be an automatic starter at United, while Leonardo Bonucci believes Juventus would be a better club without him.
Ronaldo’s three goals in six Premier League games is a respectable return – two against Newcastle in his first game and one against West Ham in his second – but it is not exceptional by his high standards.
There are several notable differences to how United is playing this season: they are more direct; they put in more crosses, and they press less.
"He can [legitimately] argue he's been the best footballer ever, but in terms of him making Manchester United a better team? No," said Souness after the Liverpool defeat.
Ronaldo won Serie A in his first two seasons with Juventus but last year they only just finished in the top four, ending their nine-year reign as champions.
Juve defender Bonucci said: "Last year the team played for him. Now the group must rediscover that Juve spirit that was there before his arrival."
‘Post-Ronaldo Juve Better Than Ever’
Former United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I agree with Leonardo Bonucci that Juventus have got better without Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Wherever Ronaldo goes he is the main focus, but if you watched Juventus before he went there, they performed as a team and as an XI."
United is seventh in the Premier League with 14 points after nine games, eight off-leaders Chelsea.
Last season they were on 16 points at this stage – but ninth because most of the other teams had played an extra game.
But they were meant to be better this season after signing France defender Raphael Varane from Real Madrid, England winger Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund and Ronaldo.
The Red Devils have had the same start in the Champions League as last time – sitting top of their group on six points from three games.
Devils’ Notable Improvements
There are notable differences in how they are playing this season and how Ronaldo has changed their game.
United is putting in many more crosses this season than last – with Ronaldo famously good in the air.
They have moved up from 17th last season to seventh this campaign in terms of crosses from open play. The average per game was 11.2 in 2020-21 and that has now risen to 14.2.
Despite that, Ronaldo is yet to have a headed effort in the Premier League this season – although his Champions League winner against Atalanta was with his head.
United are worse this season at pressed sequences – a measure of how quickly they press from the front. They were second best of the 20 teams last season but are seventh this time.
They have dropped from eighth to 12th on opposition passes allowed per defensive action – which means they have got worse at the speed with which they interrupt opponents’ passing moves.
And in a significant change, United is attacking quicker this season than last.
They top the Premier League rankings for the amount of distance a team moves forward in a move – and have moved up from seventh to second in how far forward a team starts a movement in open play.
Solskjaer’s side has also improved on direct attacks and direct speed.
Former England striker Karen Carney does not think their style of play has changed too much though.
"They have tried to change the way they play [in recent times] - that's not just on Ronaldo. United have a good away record because of their low block and counter-attack," she said.
Souness added: "They have a problem because they can't play the way Ole wants to play. They can't be the high pressing team that the very best teams are, because if one person doesn't commit to the press, people can get out.
"He won't give you that so they will have to be a different brand of football - that Ole doesn't really want to play."
United have covered more ground than their opponents in only one of the six games Ronaldo has played in the Premier League since he returned – but that was also true for two of the three matches before he started.
There is little doubt Ronaldo has changed Manchester United this season and, as under-pressure Solskjaer ponders how he can turn their form around, the Norwegian might be analyzing these statistics and wondering whether the returning icon has made his side better or worse.
*This article was written by BBC Sport Email: uzalendonews24@gmail.com to submit your story.
