Former Nigerian forward, Victor Ikpeba has called on Man United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to bench Cristiano Ronaldo if he’s not defending enough to help the team.
Ikpeba made this known during Monday Night Football Show on Supersports, where he questioned the Portuguese’s lackadaisical attitude in defending when the team is not with the ball.
Recall that Red Devils lost 2-0 to Manchester City at Old Trafford in Saturday’s Premier League game.
However, the Monaco ex-winger noted that Ronaldo has excellent goal-scoring pedigree but contributes little or nothing to the Red Devils team.
“The great managers come from the ability to get the best from your players, but if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not getting the best from these players, I feel some of the Manchester United players up front are very lazy,” Ikpeba told SuperSport’s Monday Night Football.
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“I want us to look at the game against Man City, how Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva pressed. They did not allow the defenders to start the build-up from the defence, why can’t Man Utd players do the same?
“We saw what Crystal Palace did to Manchester City, they defended very well. I always say Ronaldo is minus one for Manchester United. He can score beautiful goals, he cannot defend.
“When you look at the opposition, they defend as a team, they attack as a team, they know when to play the pressing game. Solskjaer has to be ruthless. I want to say put Ronaldo on the bench when he is not performing well. “
2 Comments
Ikpeba even though I respect you as a ex international. You want Man U to sack Ole if.he bench CR7 just say it .CR7 is the only guy upfront with the objective to save Ole’s Job. Ole should be sacked because he is not getting the best out of his players. Soon they will become Man Disunited
Don’t mind these people. CR7 has been like this throughout his career. You want him to change now? He’s not a young lad anymore. Blame the defenders especially Maguire and clueless Ole.