'Ronaldo being out of the team, I could never say it's a positive but I don't see it as a big loss like in other games,' said Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, who suggested other players like Rashford are better suited for the counterattack. 9 in the past and it has allowed him to roam and influence the game however he sees fit, combining with the wide players when the opportunity presents itself. Meanwhile, Fred and Scott McTominay partnered deeper in midfield to keep things tight against Man City.Ī central role for Pogba is definitely a different positional look for him though he has operated wide in the attack before. While the combined absences of Ronaldo and Cavani are a cruel turn of fate for Rangnick, it's an opportunity for other attackers in the United squad to prove their worth against Man City.Įlanga and Sancho are counted on to be threats on the wings with Fernandes and Pogba taking turns to occupy the defenders centrally. It's inevitable that time catches up with all players, and it seems like Ronaldo is getting a taste of it for the first time in his career.

Ronaldo has been an ever-present figure for his teams throughout his career, but this season has also seen him start four games on the bench, most surprisingly a league game at Stamford Bridge in November, when he was brought on with less than 30 minutes to play. This might be indicative of a general trend with the player. Total matches played: 30 (all competitions).In fact, Ronaldo has been subbed off more times this season than he has at any point in the last decade, with the 2012-13 season the last time he was brought out of games so regularly. He has already been substituted off five times in league games this season, as well as twice in the Champions League. Ronaldo has generally played less this season than he has at other times in his career. Ronaldo was driven home after training on Friday. Ronaldo has a hip injury (which caused him to miss two games last month). It was enough of a problem that media noted that Ronaldo had to be driven home after practice on Friday.Ĭonfirmed Varane and Shaw have Covid. Ronaldo missed two games in January with a hip problem, which also affected him during his time at Juventus. beIN SPORTS MaWhy is Cristiano Ronaldo out?Īccording to Rangnick, the hip flexor issue that surfaced earlier in the season was acting up again two days before the Manchester derby.

'Cristiano Ronaldo has not been best impressed with perhaps not playing today and has taken his ball home.' has the final word on those team news rumours from the Etihad Stadium! #beINPL #MCIMUN Roy Keane questions the exclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo from the Man United team /1WuYGB2ObG

🗣 'We talk about Ronaldo being a machine, very rarely injured then every now and again he comes out with 'hip flexor' it doesn't add up to me.' 15 due to a hip flexor issue, but some are not buying it, including former Manchester United player Roy Keane. He sat out matches against Aston Villa on Jan. It's another blow in a difficult season for the 37-year-old Ronaldo, who has missed five matches in what's been an up-and-down season. Possibility Bruno Fernandes as false nine. Leaves Marcus Rashford as only recognised forward. Instead, youngsters Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga were given the assignment of shouldering the load on the wings, with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes pushing high centrally.Ĭristiano Ronaldo out of Manchester derby. That left manager Ralf Rangnick having to shuffle his forward line against the defending Premier League champions since Edinson Cavani was also out after failing to recover from a groin injury despite training well in the days prior to the game.īut Rangnick didn't opt for Marcus Rashford at center forward as many had expected. It turns that a hip flexor injury that has troubled him in the past resurfaced two days before the Man City match. The Manchester derby on March 6 missed one of its most recognizable faces, after Cristiano Ronaldo was forced to sit out the game with reports only surfacing early on the morning of the game that he could be ruled out.

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