As reported by The Metro, former Manchester United striker Michael Owen has attacked the club for their lack of support for Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming that the team’s tactics have set the Portuguese superstar to fail in recent weeks.
Despite scoring 10 goals in 15 games since returning to the Theatre of Dreams over the summer, United interim manager Michael Carrick kept Ronaldo on the bench for Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Ronaldo often cut a lone figure when he came on just after the hour mark, with little support in attack from a defensively-minded United setup.
Carrick chose a defensive midfield trio of Fred, Scott McTominay, and Nemanja Matic, leaving the 36-year-old to fend for himself, a situation that Owen criticized.
Following the match, the ex-England striker told Premier League Productions that Ronaldo’s extremely defensive mindset was a waste of his abilities, even claiming that it was like an “abuse.”
Owen didn’t hold back when asked if he would want to play in United’s current system, as he said:
“No, you can’t! We were at Old Trafford for the City game the other day and all of a sudden it’s just exactly the same they leave Cristiano Ronaldo upfront on his own. That’s almost abuse. Having someone that good in your team and then playing everyone defensively and saying ‘That’s alright we’ll just hope he nicks a goal’ he’ll end up being average.”
The sight of Ronaldo rushing down the tunnel after the Chelsea match implies that he agrees completely with the statement said by Owen.
When new manager Ralf Rangnick arrives at Old Trafford in the coming days to take over till the end of the season, United’s tactics will almost certainly be changed. It remains to be seen whether the arrival of the German is beneficial to Ronaldo’s status in the team.
