“I win everything so am I going to be worried about the people who say bad things about me?”
Cristiano Ronaldo has responded to critics who have questioned his defensive work rate since he returned to Manchester United.
The Portuguese captain has been in scintillating form since rejoining his former side in the summer, scoring six goals in eight appearances – including a vital winner against Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Despite this, United’s form as a team has been inconsistent so far this campaign, and according to The Athletic, no forward who has played more than 270 minutes in the Premier League this season has made fewer pressures than the former Juventus man.
However, the 36-year-old has stated that he isn’t concerned about his defensive effort, suggesting that his role in the club is ‘to win and score goals’.
🗣 "I know my role in the team."
Cristiano Ronaldo says he has been brought back to #MUFC to score goals and use his experience to help develop the club’s younger players 🔴pic.twitter.com/qZsohA3PMF
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 23, 2021
He told Sky Sports: “I know when the team needs my help defensively. But my role in the club is to win, help the team to win and to score goals — [the defensive side] is part of my job.
“The people who don’t want to see that is because they don’t like me but to be honest I’m 36, I win everything so am I going to be worried about the people who say bad things about me? I sleep good at night. I go to my bed with my conscience very good. Keep going with that because I will still close mouths and win things.
“Criticism is always part of the business. I’m not worried about that. And I see it as a good thing to be honest. If they worry about me or they speak about me, it’s because they know my potential and value in football still. So it’s good. I’ll give you an example: if you’re in a school and you’re the best student, you ask the worst student if he likes the best, they’ll say they don’t like him.
“I think the main word is that I’m still happy and enjoying football. It doesn’t matter how many things I won in my career. I win everything but I’m still motivated. I’m in a new chapter of my life, even with my age, and this is why I am here — to try to win and I think Manchester needs to be at this level of winning and thinking to win big things so I’m here to help.”
Ronaldo has scored two crucial late winners for the Red Devils since his return to Old Trafford, and is averaging 0.69 goals per 90 minutes.
Related links:
- Cristiano Ronaldo chased by pitch invader after victory over Atalanta
- Man United aren’t good enough to accommodate Ronaldo’s luxury status
- Alan Shearer says Man City were ‘played like mugs’ during Ronaldo transfer saga
