Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand has expressed worries that some sections of the club’s supporters could still criticise Cristiano Ronaldo despite all the great works the Portuguese has done in his career and for the club in particular.
The former defender launched a passionate defence of the former Real Madrid and Juventus forward amid criticism he does not work hard enough for the Red Devils.
Ronaldo has scored seven goals for Man United since his return to the club in the summer, including a stunning volley in the 3-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday.
Manchester United players, including Cristiano Ronaldo were heavily criticised for their lack of pressing and laziness in the 5-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool prior to that victory.
The Portugal captain has never been regarded as a player known for his pressing but he makes up for it by scoring a ridiculous amount of goals for his team.
And that’s exactly what United legend Ferdinand believes, hitting out at those criticising the forward’s work ethic.
“I’ve heard some talks and the only way I can explain it is that it’s blasphemy, when I hear some people talking about Ronaldo being the reason why Man United aren’t going to be a success,’ Ferdinand said on his Vibe with FIVE YouTube channel.
“‘Ronaldo turning up at Man United and yeah it’s great but he’s going to be the reason why they don’t do anything.’
“Listen, I’ve been seeing too much of it, don’t talk like that. Please, it’s a disgrace, absolute disrespect.
“A player that’s done what he’s done in the game, a superstar of any generation, he’ll be one of the best players in any generation you can think about, and even again he just told people at the weekend what he’s about here… pressure’s on, he scores.
“To think that because he doesn’t press, because he doesn’t run as much as other people… that’s not what he’s there for.
“You play to people’s strengths sometimes, you can do that when you’ve got a superstar in your team sometimes for certain clubs.
“When you look at Lukaku, [Robert] Lewandowski, Karim Benzema… are they players, some of the best goalscorers of this generation… are they players that you look at and go ‘he doesn’t half work hard, he doesn’t half press the opposition.
“‘Harry Kane, he’s a great presser of the opposition isn’t he…’ but we’re all talking about them like they’re great players.
“No one is questioning their work rate and their pressing ability.
“Let’s have it right, it’s got to be the same for someone like Ronaldo. It’s the bigger picture at United, the structure of the team, it was other things.”
