Cristiano Ronaldo has launched a damning attack on his Manchester United team-mates, urging them to show more pride in their performance.
The Portugal striker, who believes his fellow players are not as committed to the cause as he is, said on Thursday: ‘I say we have a long way to improve because, for me, the most important thing is the mentality. To look at yourself and say, “I can do better”.
‘For you to be professional, help the team, the right mentality, self-taught and positive. All these details depend on you, not the coaches, the fans or the press. If you are proud of yourself and you have dignity, you have to do it much more.’
Cristiano Ronaldo has launched a damning attack on his Manchester United team-mates
Ronaldo stays behind after training to work on his fitness but, Sportsmail can reveal, he is baffled that more of his team-mates do not do the same. He also hinted that United’s younger players are not listening to his words of wisdom.
‘If I give you advice, even if you are younger than me, if you don’t implant that during your daily life, it will be difficult,’ he said. ‘I will be the No 1 to help. But if you don’t want my help, do your job, look for yourself, do your best to help the team.
‘I can speak all day with that person but if it’s not coming from inside of you, it’s impossible. When I was 18, 19, 20, some older players spoke with me, but I put that as, “Cristiano, you have to improve”.
Sportsmail has also learned of one example where Ronaldo complained privately that he is one of the only United players who goes to the gym to do extra work before and after training at Carrington.
Ronaldo believes his fellow players are not as committed to the cause as he is
The Portugal star’s fastidious fitness regime has helped him stay at the top of his game at the age of 36, but there are concerns over the attitude of the rest of the squad since he returned to Old Trafford last summer.
United have slumped to seventh in the Premier League amid concerns over a dressing-room divide, and fans displayed a banner with the solitary word ‘standards’ during Monday’s FA Cup win over Aston Villa.
Ronaldo questioned the mind-set of United’s players in an interview with Sky Sports on Thursday, and hinted that some of them are ignoring his advice.
Asked if a team can succeed without the right mentality, he replied: ‘Impossible. I think that’s the main point.
‘This is why I say we have a long way to improve because, for me, the most important thing is the mentality. To look at yourself and say, “I can do better”.
‘For you to be professional, help the team, have the right mentality, be self-taught and positive. I think all these details depend on you, not the coaches, the fans or the press. If you are proud of yourself and you have some dignity, you have to do it much more.’
Ronaldo stays behind after training to work on his fitness but, Sportsmail can reveal, he is
