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So is this the new reality for Cristiano Ronaldo? Has Manchester United’s caretaker manager Michael Carrick given him a glimpse of what to expect from interim boss Ralph Rangnick?
The Portugal star spent more than an hour sat freezing on the bench at Stamford Bridge on Sunday followed by an entirely forgettable 26-minute appearance as a substitute.
‘Of course, Cristiano is the standout name,’ said Carrick of his team selection beforehand. ‘I had a good chat with Cristiano and actually he was great.’
Cristiano Ronaldo's relegation to the bench may be a sign of things to come under Ralf Rangnick
The Portuguese star spent more than an hour trying to stay warm on the sidelines against Chelsea
Really? By the end of it all, Ronaldo was so great he was first off down the tunnel once again and barely hesitated to acknowledge an outstretched hand from his manager.
Carrick insisted that the decisions yesterday were entirely his, and bristled at suggestions that Rangnick’s fingerprints were on United’s game plan.
But ever since Rangnick – the so-called godfather of gegenpressing – was identified as United’s manager until the end of the season, the Ronaldo question has been on everybody’s lips.
How does a coach who insists on pressing accommodate a 36-year-old player who
