Cristiano Ronaldo sends a rousing message to his teammates after their Premier League title hopes were dashed by a 1-0 home loss to Aston Villa
Cristiano Ronaldo has urged Manchester United to recover from their defeat at the hands of Aston Villa and halt their slide by displaying their “true strength.”
On Saturday afternoon, Villa defender Kortney Hause scored a late winner at Old Trafford to hand the Red Devils their third defeat in four games.
Bruno Fernandes had a chance to equalize from the penalty spot in added time, but he fired his effort high over the bar.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo failed to register a shot on goal and thus failed to score in a match for the first time since his return to United this summer.
While Portugal’s captain has been in excellent form for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team, the results have not matched his efforts.
United were defeated 2-1 in the Champions League by Swiss minnows Young Boys, and they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday by West Ham.
Ronaldo has no doubt that his teammates are capable of greater things, and he took to social media to demand that results improve quickly.
The 36-year-old wrote on Instagram :
“This is only the beginning, but in a competition as strong as the Premier League, every point counts! We must react immediately, get back on our feet and show our true strength.”
When Fernandes stepped up for the last-gasp penalty instead of Ronaldo, who had taken United’s previous spot kick against Newcastle United, it raised eyebrows.
Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed the taker decision was made prior to kick-off, and Ronaldo did not object when Hause handled Edinson Cavani’s header.
Since arriving at Old Trafford in January 2020, Fernandes has forged a steely reputation from 12 yards, and Solskjaer said he would have bet his mortgage on the 27-year-old converting.
“This is going to be the headline,” said Solskjaer after the match. “Bruno has been excellent and Cristiano is probably the one who has scored the most penalties in world football.
“It is just a missed opportunity to get a point. You will be making all these assumptions on the reactions of players.
“Bruno is such a good penalty taker and you would back him with your mortgage.”
The Norwegian also seemed to hint Ronaldo and Fernandes would continue to share penalty duties, adding:
“That is football.
“He (Fernandes) will step forward every day of the week for the club and the team and sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. It is such a fine line between heaven and hell.”
United have the opportunity to react to Ronaldo’s rousing message as they host Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo sends a rousing message to his teammates after their Premier League title hopes were dashed by a 1-0 home loss to Aston Villa
