Ralph Rangnick stated Cristiano Ronaldo missed Sunday’s Manchester derby with a thigh harm, however Roy Keane believes one thing in regards to the striker’s absence “provides nothing”.
With Edinson Cavani additionally lacking from the Tour squad and Marcus Rashford on the bench, the United assault didn’t function an out and in attacker, with Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Ilanga and Paul Pogba working within the ahead areas of the Etihad Stadium.
United defenders Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw had been additionally excluded from guests after they examined constructive for the Corona virus.
“We have now two instances of Covid with Rafa, Luke and Cristiano having some issues along with his groin flexion once more on Friday,” United interim coach Rangnick informed Sky Sports activities earlier than the match.
That is solely the second Premier League recreation and the 37-year-old Ronaldo, who has scored only one aim in his final 10 video games, has missed since returning to United this season.
Ken: One thing does not add something
Communicate earlier than kick-off Tremendous SundaySky Sports activities analyst Roy Keane believes that one thing about Ronaldo’s absence “provides nothing”.
“It is a shock to listen to that Ronaldo has a thigh harm however United have pace and high quality. Ilanga is a very good, constructive participant who runs good.
“There appears to be extra in Ronaldo’s story when the supervisor comes out and talks in regards to the quadriceps. I don’t get it. We discuss Ronaldo being a machine and he not often will get injured however he comes out every so often that… the quadriceps? It doesn’t add as much as me.”
Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo scored one aim in 10 matches
And fellow Sky Sports activities Gary Neville added that Ronaldo’s enforced absence was not as huge a blow because it appeared, given the fashion of play United are doubtless to make use of.
“United for the previous three or 4 years has been a counter-attacking workforce, and he was actually snug sitting on the again on the break and that may be precisely the identical,” he stated earlier than kick-off.
“Not having Cristiano within the workforce, I can not say it is constructive, however I do not see it as a giant loss that I may do in different matches.”
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Pep: Manchester United are extra aggressive with out Ronaldo
Metropolis coach Pep Guardiola stated, in response to a query about going through the United workforce with out Ronaldo main the assault line Sky Sports activities: “It was all the time a troublesome recreation in earlier seasons. The counter-attack with Ralph may be totally different if Cristiano did not play as a result of they’d be extra aggressive due to his philosophy.”
Former striker Andy Cole – who has performed up entrance for each United and Metropolis – believes Guardiola’s defenders would have been happy with the information Ronaldo wouldn’t be taking part in.
“You’ll be able to discuss his age and what folks see him contributing to video games, but when he does not play, as a midfielder, I might be a lot happier,” Cole stated. Sky Sports activities Information.
“You understand that if he will get half an opportunity, there’s a good probability he’ll take it. You gained’t rating lots of the targets he scored in his profession when you don’t know what you might be doing while you enter the penalty space.”
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Paul Merson believes Harry Maguire and Ronaldo ought to be left to Manchester United as a result of he believes the one means they’ll defeat Manchester Metropolis is by counter-attack.
Nonetheless, Paul Merson of Sky Sports activities stated: Soccer Saturday It was believed that the guests had a greater probability of profitable on the Etihad Stadium if Ronaldo was introduced down.
“I used to be going to play [Marcus] Rashford and [Anthony] Merson Ilanga stated. “If they’ve any probability of profitable this match, they should play on the counter-attack with pace, ability and power.
“Personally, I am going to depart Ronaldo out of this recreation. In opposition to Watford, they managed the sport and had 80 per cent possession, however they would not have as a lot possession towards Metropolis.
“How usually will they be within the half of Metropolis controlling the ball? In case you’re John Stones or Aymeric Laporte, they’d quite play towards Ronaldo than watch somebody like Rashford. They do not need to face pace.”
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