John Giles joined The Football Show to discuss Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester United are fifth in the Premier League table.
Erik ten Hag's team has had disastrous days out and good days out so far this season. The overall reflection in the table is about okay. United are close to where they would expect to be. But John Giles believes they could be in a better position if they stuck with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has appeared seven times in the Premier League so far this season. But he is no longer a starter. He no longer leads the line and he's no longer a focal point of the team. Instead he comes off the bench sporadically.
Ronaldo has seven appearances in the Premier League with one goal. He has three appearances in the Europa League with one goal and an assist.
He's clearly an ancillary piece for Erik ten Hag.
When asked if Ronaldo should once again start for Manchester United John Giles responded definitively.
"I think so," Giles answered.
"He's been showing what he can do for a number of years now. And he scored 700 goals, that's incredible. I think what's happened to him is he's getting on a bit now. And with the new man coming in, the decision seemed to be we're going to have a high press and Ronaldo can't do a high press."
Most onlookers see the team is taking shape and Ronaldo no longer fits in what Manchester United want to do. Antony has settled well on the wing, Marcus Rashford is playing better than in seasons past. Jadon Sancho is largely still anonymous and Bruno Fernandes needs to be a lot better, but Anthony Martial is scoring goals and the midfield as a whole is more solid than it has been.
Add in strong performances from Lisandro Martinez and Manchester United look like they need continuity more than change. But Giles says that's not the case.
The value Ronaldo brings outweighs all of the negatives his presence in the side brings.
"The fact is Ronaldo never, ever could do a high press. All he did was score goals. And if you've got a guy who scores the way he scores, you have to live with him. You have to live with him not doing the high press. Scoring goals is the most important thing in football and it's the most difficult thing in football.
"Even last year, he was the highest goalscorer with 18 goals in a team that wasn't doing well."
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