Sir Alex Ferguson suggested that Ronaldo should have started United’s 1-1 draw with Everton before the international break but Solskjaer says he is relaxed about the criticism
Manchester United coach, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has dismissed Sir Alex Ferguson’s criticism of his controversial decision to bench Ronaldo in the 1-1 draw against Everton.
After the game, Ferguson was filmed saying “you should always play your best players” in a conversation about Solskjaer’s decision to omit Ronaldo.
As a response, Solskjaer insisted he was not bothered by his former manager’s blunt remarks.
“I’m quite relaxed about it,” said Solskjaer.
“I disagreed with the gaffer quite a few times and I told my wife quite a few times that I disagreed with him, but that never made headlines as a player.
“I’m sure Sir Alex knows that it doesn’t bother me. We all want to see Cristiano. We all want to, because he’s unique, he’s different, he’s had a career and everyone wants to come and watch him.
“But the plain fact of it is he cannot play every single game that we play, that’s just physical nature, human nature.
“He knows how difficult this job is anyway, the gaffer. He didn’t always play the same eleven.
“He took some risks at times to rest Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney or David Beckham, the best players that we had. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.”
Solskjaer also defended Ronaldo for walking straight down the tunnel, muttering his dismay for all to see, at the end of the Everton draw.
“If you lose two points, the way Cristiano felt like there and then, that’s natural,” said Solskjaer.
“I don’t want my players to be happy with that situation. I spoke to him before the game, I spoke to him after the game and he was ready to come on when he was called upon.
“Unfortunately, when we don’t win, Cristiano isn’t happy and that’s a mindset that you want from every player. That’s absolutely no problem whatsoever.”