Pressures by forwards
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Ronaldo’s impact at Manchester United: Late shows, reluctant pressing and barely any dribbling
By Laurie Whitwell and Mark Carey 5h ago
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Cristiano Ronaldo knows how to score and he knows how to create a viral image. In marking his fifth goal in five games by flinging his shirt into orbit around Old Trafford, Ronaldo ensured the lasting impression of Manchester United’s Champions League game against Villarreal was wild glory.
He admitted afterwards he had not played that well but insisted he held an unerring belief during the encounter that he would have a defining influence. Sometimes, sheer will supersedes systems.
Ronaldo’s mentality in that regard is unquantifiable but a clear reason why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer left him on when, for another player, such a performance might have prompted a substitution. Ronaldo has delivered those moments throughout his career and by football’s most important metric his return to United has started superbly.
(Photo: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
He has also had an impact in matches in ways that might not have been anticipated. Yet there are questions too, mainly about the synchronicity of the team with Ronaldo at the tip. Here, The Athletic explores how Ronaldo has fared back at Manchester United so far…
The late, late show…
In the 95th minute against Villarreal Ronaldo became the scorer of the latest winning goal in the Champions League for United, surpassing the record his manager once held for a certain strike in 1999. Just as when scoring in the 96th minute for Portugal against Republic of Ireland, his shirt came off and his shredded physique came out.
A pristine approach to fitness is why he is lasting full games at the age of 36. Solskjaer has only withdrawn Ronaldo once, for the final 18 minutes against Young Boys, and he is still looking dangerous into the closing seconds.
In the 95th minute against Aston Villa, he ran into space behind Matty Cash in anticipation of Paul Pogba getting over a cross but the ball from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s pass failed to settle in time.
Ronaldo’s goal against Villarreal was the third time he threatened in four stoppage-time minutes. First, he moved to collect a pass from Bruno Fernandes but went wide through a bad touch, only managing to dig out a chip to the far post rather than a shot, then he delivered a wicked cross to Jesse Lingard, whose run across Pau Torres allowed him to reach for a finish that drew a good save from Geronimo Rulli.
Twice in successive games Edinson Cavani has come on to play alongside Ronaldo, rather than replace him. Cavani brought the chaos with his manic running after he had also disrupted Villarreal from the sidelines.
Villarreal manager Unai Emery employs a tactical periodisation method of warming up his substitutes, with three, led by a sports scientist, going through a routine as high tempo as match speed from the 50th minute. Cavani decided to stretch his muscles between them, on the wrong side of the dugout for United substitutes, in an apparent effort to unsettle. He provoked an angry response from Emery’s staff.
Solskjaer got out-manoeuvred by Emery’s changes in the Europa League final, but he timed his replacements well on Wednesday night and United finished stronger. Ronaldo, playing his 432nd minute in 18 days, still led the way.
Pressing pause
Ronaldo has mastered the art of saving his energy for important moments. He does not chase around from the front to win back possession, as the below graph shows.
Ronaldo’s impact at Manchester United: Late shows, reluctant pressing and barely any dribbling
By Laurie Whitwell and Mark Carey 5h ago
Cristiano Ronaldo knows how to score and he knows how to create a viral image. In marking his fifth goal in five games by flinging his shirt into orbit around Old Trafford, Ronaldo ensured the lasting impression of Manchester United’s Champions League game against Villarreal was wild glory.
He admitted afterwards he had not played that well but insisted he held an unerring belief during the encounter that he would have a defining influence. Sometimes, sheer will supersedes systems.
Ronaldo’s mentality in that regard is unquantifiable but a clear reason why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer left him on when, for another player, such a performance might have prompted a substitution. Ronaldo has delivered those moments throughout his career and by football’s most important metric his return to United has started superbly.
(Photo: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
He has also had an impact in matches in ways that might not have been anticipated. Yet there are questions too, mainly about the synchronicity of the team with Ronaldo at the tip. Here, The Athletic explores how Ronaldo has fared back at Manchester United so far…
The late, late show…
In the 95th minute against Villarreal Ronaldo became the scorer of the latest winning goal in the Champions League for United, surpassing the record his manager once held for a certain strike in 1999. Just as when scoring in the 96th minute for Portugal against Republic of Ireland, his shirt came off and his shredded physique came out.
A pristine approach to fitness is why he is lasting full games at the age of 36. Solskjaer has only withdrawn Ronaldo once, for the final 18 minutes against Young Boys, and he is still looking dangerous into the closing seconds.
In the 95th minute against Aston Villa, he ran into space behind Matty Cash in anticipation of Paul Pogba getting over a cross but the ball from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s pass failed to settle in time.
Ronaldo’s goal against Villarreal was the third time he threatened in four stoppage-time minutes. First, he moved to collect a pass from Bruno Fernandes but went wide through a bad touch, only managing to dig out a chip to the far post rather than a shot, then he delivered a wicked cross to Jesse Lingard, whose run across Pau Torres allowed him to reach for a finish that drew a good save from Geronimo Rulli.
Twice in successive games Edinson Cavani has come on to play alongside Ronaldo, rather than replace him. Cavani brought the chaos with his manic running after he had also disrupted Villarreal from the sidelines.
Villarreal manager Unai Emery employs a tactical periodisation method of warming up his substitutes, with three, led by a sports scientist, going through a routine as high tempo as match speed from the 50th minute. Cavani decided to stretch his muscles between them, on the wrong side of the dugout for United substitutes, in an apparent effort to unsettle. He provoked an angry response from Emery’s staff.
Solskjaer got out-manoeuvred by Emery’s changes in the Europa League final, but he timed his replacements well on Wednesday night and United finished stronger. Ronaldo, playing his 432nd minute in 18 days, still led the way.
Pressing pause
Ronaldo has mastered the art of saving his energy for important moments. He does not chase around from the front to win back possession, as the below graph shows.
Part 2
No Premier League forward playing at least 270 minutes has applied pressure less frequently to an opposing player who is receiving, carrying or releasing the ball than Ronaldo. He does it only 2.7 times per 90 minutes on average so far. It is a small sample size but a marked difference to others in his position.
A player can only pressure the ball when out of possession, so Teemu Pukki of Norwich City, for example, has a higher chance to do so. But Diogo Jota and Gabriel Jesus rank highly off the ball in dominant teams.
This strategy by Ronaldo was evident against Villarreal, particularly in the first half when it often seemed as if Fernandes was the only one trying to win the ball back from Emery’s defenders. Solskjaer has wanted a high press from his players but with Ronaldo in situ that plan may need tweaking. The tactic usually means either all go or none do.
Ronaldo did start with aggressive intentions. Five minutes into his debut against Newcastle United he rushed Matt Ritchie after a quick check with Mason Greenwood.
Against Villa Ronaldo lost an aerial duel to Ezri Konsa then sprinted to tackle Kourtney Hause and force a throw-in that whipped up the crowd.
He even went close to scoring against Villarreal when sliding in on Rulli. Ronaldo anticipated a pass back from Daniel Parejo and sprinted, nearly blocking Rulli’s hasty clearance.
It came just after Cavani had headed his great chance wide and was aided by Scott McTominay pushing up to Parejo.
Ronaldo gave up on a slightly loose pass from Nemanja Matic against Villarreal, prompting Cavani to hunt the ball from further back and launching a million memes. But going the other way, Ronaldo has tracked back to tackle against Young Boys, West Ham and Aston Villa when danger loomed. It seems he will ration his efforts for moments he feels will have real impact.
Understanding Greenwood, Lingard, Sancho
Ronaldo is yet to fully click with Greenwood, as the below graphic on passes shows. The pair have been on the pitch together in the Premier League for 248 minutes but combined only 11 times so far.
There have been some nice link-ups, notably against Villa when Ronaldo flicked a first-time pass round the corner to Greenwood in the centre circle. Greenwood’s pass to Fernandes was gobbled up by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who repeatedly came out of his box to collect. But the Villa game was a case of a relationship waiting to blossom fully.
At one stage when breaking clear, Greenwood attracted all three Villa centre-backs as Ronaldo made a run from inside to out. But Greenwood kept dribbling rather than release the ball to Ronaldo on the overlap and Villa scrambled back.
On another occasion in the game Ronaldo overlooked Greenwood, trying instead to backheel to McTominay but gifting Jacob Ramsey possession. Ronaldo did run back to regain the ball.
Time playing together should see two supremely talented players gain an appreciation of each other’s movements and preferred passes.
Ronaldo seems to be on a good wavelength with Lingard, whose clever assist against Villarreal should not go overlooked, but an understanding with Jadon Sancho perhaps needs more time. Six combined passes is low for 83 minutes shared on the pitch, although they might not necessarily have to join up directly for United to prove potent.
Against Newcastle, Ronaldo’s movement made space for Sancho when Fernandes advanced with the ball. Jamaal Lascelles backed off and Ronaldo darted in behind Isaac Hayden. Fernandes’s pass, under pressure from Sean Longstaff, was poor, allowing Javier Maquillo to get back. Sancho’s shot deflected behind off Lascelles.
Later, it was Sancho’s movement that distracted Manquillo just enough to give Ronaldo space to burst onto Luke Shaw’s pass for his second goal of the game.
Drifts left but dribbles low
Pogba and Shaw are the two team-mates Ronaldo has combined with most: an indication of his propensity for drifting to the left, as this action map shows.
Despite this frequent position on the flank, Ronaldo is not dribbling as he did back in his first period at United. He has completed just one dribble so far in the Premier League, compared to six for Jamie Vardy, who has admittedly played three more games. Mohamed Salah has 11 dribbles.
Instead, Ronaldo is tending to pass off first-time and run in anticipation of a return ball. He did this against Villa when picking up the ball after a tackle by Harry Maguire 30 yards from his own goal. He swept the ball out to the wing for Pogba, who found Greenwood in behind. Greenwood shot rather than passed to Fernandes as Ronaldo made up ground to the edge of the area.
Against Newcastle, that approach nearly found benefit when Ronaldo came deep to play a one-two with Pogba. Then, as Matic passed out wide to Shaw, he sprung alive — racing before the ball had even reached Shaw, who had space thanks to a run from Sancho…
Ronaldo put his hand up when Shaw controlled…
…but the cross was too deep.
Ronaldo’s natural tendency to the left does allow for the possibility of Cavani playing in the same team up top, as has happened in the closing stages of the game against Villa and Villarreal. This does however present something to think about for Marcus Rashford’s return — a player who does his best work off the left.
Answers may come in time, but for now, there is plenty to ponder.
No Premier League forward playing at least 270 minutes has applied pressure less frequently to an opposing player who is receiving, carrying or releasing the ball than Ronaldo. He does it only 2.7 times per 90 minutes on average so far. It is a small sample size but a marked difference to others in his position.
A player can only pressure the ball when out of possession, so Teemu Pukki of Norwich City, for example, has a higher chance to do so. But Diogo Jota and Gabriel Jesus rank highly off the ball in dominant teams.
This strategy by Ronaldo was evident against Villarreal, particularly in the first half when it often seemed as if Fernandes was the only one trying to win the ball back from Emery’s defenders. Solskjaer has wanted a high press from his players but with Ronaldo in situ that plan may need tweaking. The tactic usually means either all go or none do.
Ronaldo did start with aggressive intentions. Five minutes into his debut against Newcastle United he rushed Matt Ritchie after a quick check with Mason Greenwood.
Against Villa Ronaldo lost an aerial duel to Ezri Konsa then sprinted to tackle Kourtney Hause and force a throw-in that whipped up the crowd.
He even went close to scoring against Villarreal when sliding in on Rulli. Ronaldo anticipated a pass back from Daniel Parejo and sprinted, nearly blocking Rulli’s hasty clearance.
It came just after Cavani had headed his great chance wide and was aided by Scott McTominay pushing up to Parejo.
Ronaldo gave up on a slightly loose pass from Nemanja Matic against Villarreal, prompting Cavani to hunt the ball from further back and launching a million memes. But going the other way, Ronaldo has tracked back to tackle against Young Boys, West Ham and Aston Villa when danger loomed. It seems he will ration his efforts for moments he feels will have real impact.
Understanding Greenwood, Lingard, Sancho
Ronaldo is yet to fully click with Greenwood, as the below graphic on passes shows. The pair have been on the pitch together in the Premier League for 248 minutes but combined only 11 times so far.
There have been some nice link-ups, notably against Villa when Ronaldo flicked a first-time pass round the corner to Greenwood in the centre circle. Greenwood’s pass to Fernandes was gobbled up by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who repeatedly came out of his box to collect. But the Villa game was a case of a relationship waiting to blossom fully.
At one stage when breaking clear, Greenwood attracted all three Villa centre-backs as Ronaldo made a run from inside to out. But Greenwood kept dribbling rather than release the ball to Ronaldo on the overlap and Villa scrambled back.
On another occasion in the game Ronaldo overlooked Greenwood, trying instead to backheel to McTominay but gifting Jacob Ramsey possession. Ronaldo did run back to regain the ball.
Time playing together should see two supremely talented players gain an appreciation of each other’s movements and preferred passes.
Ronaldo seems to be on a good wavelength with Lingard, whose clever assist against Villarreal should not go overlooked, but an understanding with Jadon Sancho perhaps needs more time. Six combined passes is low for 83 minutes shared on the pitch, although they might not necessarily have to join up directly for United to prove potent.
Against Newcastle, Ronaldo’s movement made space for Sancho when Fernandes advanced with the ball. Jamaal Lascelles backed off and Ronaldo darted in behind Isaac Hayden. Fernandes’s pass, under pressure from Sean Longstaff, was poor, allowing Javier Maquillo to get back. Sancho’s shot deflected behind off Lascelles.
Later, it was Sancho’s movement that distracted Manquillo just enough to give Ronaldo space to burst onto Luke Shaw’s pass for his second goal of the game.
Drifts left but dribbles low
Pogba and Shaw are the two team-mates Ronaldo has combined with most: an indication of his propensity for drifting to the left, as this action map shows.
Despite this frequent position on the flank, Ronaldo is not dribbling as he did back in his first period at United. He has completed just one dribble so far in the Premier League, compared to six for Jamie Vardy, who has admittedly played three more games. Mohamed Salah has 11 dribbles.
Instead, Ronaldo is tending to pass off first-time and run in anticipation of a return ball. He did this against Villa when picking up the ball after a tackle by Harry Maguire 30 yards from his own goal. He swept the ball out to the wing for Pogba, who found Greenwood in behind. Greenwood shot rather than passed to Fernandes as Ronaldo made up ground to the edge of the area.
Against Newcastle, that approach nearly found benefit when Ronaldo came deep to play a one-two with Pogba. Then, as Matic passed out wide to Shaw, he sprung alive — racing before the ball had even reached Shaw, who had space thanks to a run from Sancho…
Ronaldo put his hand up when Shaw controlled…
…but the cross was too deep.
Ronaldo’s natural tendency to the left does allow for the possibility of Cavani playing in the same team up top, as has happened in the closing stages of the game against Villa and Villarreal. This does however present something to think about for Marcus Rashford’s return — a player who does his best work off the left.
Answers may come in time, but for now, there is plenty to ponder.
I think he's pressing too much at the moment and maybe that's why he's missing chances – needs to find a good balance.
Shows why he’s in ahead of Firmino.
Ronaldo was always going to last wasn’t he?
Ronaldo was always going to last wasn’t he?
I think Maupay has peaked. Would be underwhelmed if we signed him.
Are you DB in disguise?
Maupay is a strange typo for "Mbappe".
No I'm just trying to be reasonable. There's plenty else to hate about him
It’s not about hating on him. It’s interesting they’ve taken this route, to integrate this 37 year old striker that won’t join the pressing game.
Means they’ll play deeper, in a completely different style to most of the current top sides in England. It’ll allow lots of teams to comfortably maintain possession. Will be interesting to see how that pans out.
He’s 36 pgffft
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