Premier League: Cristiano Ronaldo interview (Warning! It's another Messi V Ronaldo thread)

Ladron de redcafe

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While that's not wrong, there's still different levels of mentality at play, and there's no doubt that City have the mentality to run a lot, sprint a lot, and work hard against the ball, in basically every game. Work ethic is part of mentality too, and the fact Pep's teams are "better at football" cannot be separated from a strong work ethic.
I think that Keanomagichat might have been talking about rising during adversity, rather work ethic. I think that they're slightly different things and while nobody should downplay the hard work ethic that goes into a dominant side like City, that isn't really related to the "clutch" factor.
 

kouroux

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That's true but it also means that the advice might not be as palatable as it would if it comes from some exemplifying what he's saying.
In an ideal world yeah but if someone has that mentality then he'll never his true potential. There is no fecking way the advices of an underperforming Ronaldo should be brushed aside like he described.
That means they're prone to do that with anybody isn't worthy in their eyes (Rangnick as a manager for instance). It's a wrong mentality
 

Deery

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He's playing like shite. Airshots, missed chances. Bad touches that turn into "assists". And don't blame others for his shitty play, half your best signings under Fergie stood out in bad teams, which is why they ended up at Old Trafford. Including Keane, who stood out in a relegated Nottingham Forest team.
Who stands out in this United side?
 

Ladron de redcafe

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Ronaldo is playing well.

You can only do so much on your own.

Even Bruno, a great passer and creative player has been awful.

Ronaldo 8/10 given the ball is a huge threat and he is like 37.

Cavani aside (34/35) no one else looks as dangerous

If no one provides decent supply and crosses then Ronaldo isn't going to do much to score goals

Ronaldo has been given the ball a lot. He's taken the 2nd most shots in the league and has only 6 open play goals.

Besides them, he's contributed next to nothing in terms of overall play. Not sure why everyone else in the team is expected to put chances on a silver platter for him to have an impact.
 

choccy77

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He's playing like shite. Airshots, missed chances. Bad touches that turn into "assists". And don't blame others for his shitty play, half your best signings under Fergie stood out in bad teams, which is why they ended up at Old Trafford. Including Keane, who stood out in a relegated Nottingham Forest team.
Totally disagree.

Ronaldo and De Gea are the only two world class players in this entire squad.

Ronaldo performance's are because he is playing with a load of rubbish players and he cannot do everything by himself so is rightly frustrated and fed up.

Put him in a team that can make two passes and you will see how good he is.

I would say that if he was up front for City, he would have 20 goals by now easily
 

Hansi Fick

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That's true but it also means that the advice might not be as palatable as it would if it comes from some exemplifying what he's saying.
I'm absolutely certain that Ronaldo exemplifies what he says, himself. He says clearly that the notion of having to improve refers to oneself - to himself first. The guy is the embodiment of a top professional, and he's still the best finisher in the world. He's not the problem.
 

Ladron de redcafe

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In an ideal world yeah but if someone has that mentality then he'll never his true potential. There is no fecking way the advices of an underperforming Ronaldo should be brushed aside like he described.
That means they're prone to do that with anybody isn't worthy in their eyes (Rangnick as a manager for instance). It's a wrong mentality
Perhaps, but that's the reality of athletes in sports. When Roy Keane stopped performing at the same level, the players weren't interested in getting lectured by him. When Michael Jordan came back with the Wizards, there were plenty of stories of players rolling their eyes while he'd talk (which is flabbergasting, but again, could be explained by the fact that players aren't inclined to be sat and inundated with criticism of a player no longer performing at the high level he once was).

Keane and Jordan had as much - and possibly - more to impart at that stage of their careers (because of their experience) but their leadership impact waned.
 

choccy77

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Nobody. Nobody is playing well. But no individual(s) is to blame for another individual playing badly.
De Gea?

Each player is responsible for themselves, Ronaldo off the pitch is a world class professional, no one else in the squad is.
 

Red the Bear

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Great interview, hopefully it goes a long way to dispel the nonsense that media keeps peddling.
 

Ladron de redcafe

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We have a bunch of 20 year old something multimillionaire influencer brats. Its pathetic. The man has done it all in Football, show him some respect.
We also have a 36 year old multimillionaire best. Why should he be exempt from the criticism that others are getting?
 

flameinthesun

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There does seem to be a different way to handle the current generation. Whether they are more sensitive or simply more willing to speak up when being criticised (which can be both negative and positive) I don't think it applies to all players.

For example we've seen plenty of times pep (sterling, kimmich) or klopp berating players on the pitch and going ballistic. If they do that publicly then best believe they are happy to do the same privately with their players. I just think as has always been the case, there are:
- players with talent and mental fortitude who you can criticise
- players with talent but lack mental fortitude
- players with little talent but mental fortitude
and the rest

I'm sure we can go back decades and see teams full of talents but their players didn't have the level of mental fortitude needed to be champions.

When you look at our team and imagine what players have shown a bit of fight in their career you'd say Ronaldo, Bruno, Mct, Bailly likes a fight, other than that we haven't really got fighters. Compare that to 08 (rooney, tevez, ronaldo, scholes, giggs, rio, vidic, brown, vds evra etc) who were all naturally fighters. Sometimes you just cant teach someone to be a fighter.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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He's totally right. It's been like this for ages. Whenever the expectation is lifted to produce title challenger form, we don't perform and actually being overwhelmed by the high expectation. I have seen so many times we perform so inconsistently. We have too many players who only came here to enjoy their job but not enough ambition to win things. If players have ambition to win and taking their ambition seriously, we would have go toe to toe with Man City in challenging the league last season.
 

KeanoMagicHat

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While that's not wrong, there's still different levels of mentality at play, and there's no doubt that City have the mentality to run a lot, sprint a lot, and work hard against the ball, in basically every game. Work ethic is part of mentality too, and the fact Pep's teams are "better at football" cannot be separated from a strong work ethic.
That's true about work ethic but that's also player recruitment, Gabriel Jesus is willing to run around all day, Pep doesn't care if that costs him goals/personal gain. United bought Ronaldo, who is a selfish player who needs support players and want to be centre of everything. They bought him when they already had Bruno, who is also a selfish player who needs support players and wants to be centre of everything. Greenwood is also like this. That's 3 players that want players to make decoy runs/be unselfish around them...and we keep picking all 3 of them in the same team. And Bruno has tried to be a support player more than the other two... fact is he's not really that good at it. He needs to be the centre and he isn't anymore.

Also all of City's forwards are in their 20s and most still have a hunger and a point to prove (none of them have ever won the CL for example). United meanwhile played a 34 and a 36 year old up front in the last match, can you expect the same intensity and pace? Ronaldo might have one of the best "mentalities" and footballing minds in recent history, but his legs don't follow his mind always anymore as he's turning 37. He can't do what Gabriel Jesus is doing, it doesn't matter if he's won 5 CLs, it's what their bodies are like now.
 

Buster15

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Elite mentality. Some in our squad can’t handle that.
Exactly.
I did find a couple of things very interesting.
1. He mentioned Ole and Carrick by name. But then referred to the new coach... not by name.
2. His body language. Very often, he was shaking his head.

But apart from that, it was very clear that he has a number of concerns about the attitude and character of this squad.
Not necessarily their ability. But their attitude. And he seemed to fully support the Luke Shaw interview comments.

As you rightly say. Ronaldo is an elite individual. Both physically and mentally.
And the difference between Manchester United now compared to when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager must feel like a casom. I just hope that some of the players are sensible enough to actually listen to him and understand what makes him an elite player.
 

Buster15

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I'm absolutely certain that Ronaldo exemplifies what he says, himself. He says clearly that the notion of having to improve refers to oneself - to himself first. The guy is the embodiment of a top professional, and he's still the best finisher in the world. He's not the problem.
Well said Hansi.
 

Paxi

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Exactly.
I did find a couple of things very interesting.
1. He mentioned Ole and Carrick by name. But then referred to the new coach... not by name.
2. His body language. Very often, he was shaking his head.

But apart from that, it was very clear that he has a number of concerns about the attitude and character of this squad.
Not necessarily their ability. But their attitude. And he seemed to fully support the Luke Shaw interview comments.

As you rightly say. Ronaldo is an elite individual. Both physically and mentally.
And the difference between Manchester United now compared to when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager must feel like a casom. I just hope that some of the players are sensible enough to actually listen to him and understand what makes him an elite player.
Yep, nice summary mate.
 

Kopral Jono

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The most alarming thing about this interview is most of what he talks about is clearly the fruits or spoils of Ole's tenure. Its obvious Ole cultivated a weak mindset and lowered standards and expectations well below the level of the club.

We have many threads about certain players not being up for it but reading between the lines from Ronaldo its a pervasive issue and is spread across the club for the most part.
I get the same impression. The whole 'new year, new us' thing which he twice repeats speaks volumes.
 

Deery

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That's true about work ethic but that's also player recruitment, Gabriel Jesus is willing to run around all day, Pep doesn't care if that costs him goals/personal gain. United bought Ronaldo, who is a selfish player who needs support players and want to be centre of everything. They bought him when they already had Bruno, who is also a selfish player who needs support players and wants to be centre of everything. Greenwood is also like this. That's 3 players that want players to make decoy runs/be unselfish around them...and we keep picking all 3 of them in the same team. And Bruno has tried to be a support player more than the other two... fact is he's not really that good at it. He needs to be the centre and he isn't anymore.

Also all of City's forwards are in their 20s and most still have a hunger and a point to prove (none of them have ever won the CL for example). United meanwhile played a 34 and a 36 year old up front in the last match, can you expect the same intensity and pace? Ronaldo might have one of the best "mentalities" and footballing minds in recent history, but his legs don't follow his mind always anymore as he's turning 37. He can't do what Gabriel Jesus is doing, it doesn't matter if he's won 5 CLs, it's what their bodies are like now.
Does Gabriel Jesus run about all day though?

He doesn’t seem to do that much running to me compared to an average striker.
 

Ladron de redcafe

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5 ballon d’Or’s?
5 Chanpions league’s?
By that logic, Messi is much more of a professional than Ronaldo.

Success (individual in this case) has nothing to do with professionalism. Ronaldo is simply a better player than many others who might be more professional than he is. Gary Neville was perhaps the most professional when he was at the club, but he was limited and was never close to world class player.
 

Deery

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By that logic, Messi is much more of a professional than Ronaldo.

Success (individual in this case) has nothing to do with professionalism. Ronaldo is simply a better player than many others who might be more professional than he is. Gary Neville was perhaps the most professional when he was at the club, but he was limited and was never close to world class player.
Messi only has 4 CL’s :lol:
 

choccy77

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You did, unless I misunderstood your post. You praised Ronaldo by saying he's a world class professional and added that nobody else in the squad is.
No I didn't

I've said many times in this thread, De Gea and Ronaldo are the only two world class players
 

KeanoMagicHat

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Does Gabriel Jesus run about all day though?

He doesn’t seem to do that much running to me compared to an average striker.
That famous/infamous pressing graphic that did the rounds when Ronaldo arrived had Ronaldo bottom on 2.7 presses per game and Jesus had 17.8 presses per game. You're right in that it doesn't make him out on his own for running or anything, but it's a lot for a 'dominant' team like City and puts him way, way ahead of Ronaldo and alongside a lot of forwards who play for teams that are chasing games.
 

Deery

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More Balón dors. More Golden boots. More trophies.

Who cares, and how does that answer my question or give merit to yours?
You’re clutching at straws now DeGea plays in nets which is far less challenging than playing up front, we seen with VDS it’s not unusual for a keeper to play high level into his 40’s..
 

Shunty

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Things Ronaldo is not:

1) Wrong.

2) Playing well enough for this rhetoric.
That right there is the best player that’s ever put a pair of boots on EVER. He has scored a load of goals this season, he isn’t what he used to be but what we do have up front is a deadly finisher, if he played for city he would have 25 goals by now. He is not the issue it’s the team behind him. Dominate possession and start creating chances this bloke will score. I say that about Cavani too. Both of them have been stats wise the best strikers in the world for 8 years plus. He has every right to criticise these players if he damn well choses, unlike the rest of the bottlers he’s been there and done it. Plus for him to do this interview there is something massively wrong at the club I wonder if we’ll ever know what the hell is going on.
 

Ladron de redcafe

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No I didn't

I've said many times in this thread, De Gea and Ronaldo are the only two world class players
You might have meant outfield players. I just took the following to mean that nobody besides Ronaldo is a world class pro.
De Gea?

Each player is responsible for themselves, Ronaldo off the pitch is a world class professional, no one else in the squad is.
 

Ladron de redcafe

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You’re clutching at straws now DeGea plays in nets which is far less challenging than playing up front, we seen with VDS it’s not unusual for a keeper to play high level into his 40’s..
That doesn't answer my question.
 

JB7

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What makes him more of a world class professional than De Gea?
Willingness to work on his flaws rather still being the same timid stick thin mute player scared of opponents coming too close to him that he was when he was a teenager?
 

TwoSheds

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Nice to hear him say he wants to win a trophy. I'd have taken League Cup, Europa, anything this year instead of an inconsistent, frustrating year where maybe we eventually finish top 4. I'd love an FA cup win and a decent showing in the CL, it's been too long already since we did anything noteworthy. I don't consider a Europa League semi noteworthy really for a club of our size, and the final would have only been a positive if we hadn't consistently flopped out of so many cups in the latter stages in recent years.