Arsenal legend, Paul Merson, has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo ruined Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils strategy since his arrival at Old Trafford from Juventus.
Merson believes Solskjaer wasn’t prepared for Ronaldo’s return to Man United, adding that he feels sorry for the Norwegian, who was sacked by the Premier League giants on Sunday.
According to him, Manchester United are not a better team with Ronaldo in their squad.
He stated this ahead of Man United’s Champions League clash with Villarreal on Tuesday evening.
“I feel sorry for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“He had a plan at the start of the season, having finished second last season. He has chased Jadon Sancho for a long time, got him in, and he has given Edinson Cavani another year.
“You could see his plan: you play Cavani every other game, you have [Jadon] Sancho on one side, Marcus Rashford on the other, you have Mason Greenwood coming in and swapping around, you’ve pace, power, energy, youth, skill, the lot.
“Then, just before the season starts, he gets given [Cristiano] Ronaldo. I think he has thrown it all out of the window. From day one, they are not a better team with Ronaldo in it.
“With Ronaldo up there, you don’t have that weapon to play on the counter-attack anymore. And Bruno Fernandes was their best player last season – he has hardly had a touch this season!
“It is all snowballed for Solskjaer. He had a plan, and the Ronaldo situation threw it all out of the window, just before the season started.
“They only went for him because they heard Man City were after him. It is not like United were calling Juventus to ask if he is available because Ronaldo is the missing link for [Manchester] United winning the Premier League. He is not!”
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