Sir Bobby Robson believes that fellow knight Sir Alex Ferguson took a huge risk by not starting Cristiano Ronaldo at Stamford Bridge yesterday but insists that the decision could ultimately favour Manchester United. United slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, and Robson believes that the Red Devils are an entirely different prospect without Ronaldo in their ranks.
However, the ex-England manager is acutely aware that the advantage lies with Manchester United, and that Ferguson could be vindicated in resting Ronaldo for a game United could afford to lose.
With upcoming ties against West Ham and Wigam in the Premier League and Barcelona in the Champions League, Robson in under no illusion that Ferguson will choose his strongest line up in those three must-win games.
Some question marks were raised over the decision to leave Ronaldo in reserve yesterday, but the vastly experienced Robson is well aware of the need to keep key players fit until the end of the season.
Although United fans may rue the defeat to Chelsea, it may be ultimately beneficial as Ronaldo kept some vital energy in reserve to jet-heel his way past Barca.
Writing in his Mail on Sunday newspaper column, Robson stated: “Sir Alex has been a course and distance winner before, of course, and, while people may be frustrated with his team changes, he's doing it because he knows how tired his players can get chasing silverware on two fronts.
It was a gamble to leave Ronaldo on the bench and United weren't the same team without him. But the point is that United could afford to lose yesterday. They can't against Barcelona, West Ham and Wigan — and I'm sure Ronaldo will play in all those game"
However, the ex-England manager is acutely aware that the advantage lies with Manchester United, and that Ferguson could be vindicated in resting Ronaldo for a game United could afford to lose.
With upcoming ties against West Ham and Wigam in the Premier League and Barcelona in the Champions League, Robson in under no illusion that Ferguson will choose his strongest line up in those three must-win games.
Some question marks were raised over the decision to leave Ronaldo in reserve yesterday, but the vastly experienced Robson is well aware of the need to keep key players fit until the end of the season.
Although United fans may rue the defeat to Chelsea, it may be ultimately beneficial as Ronaldo kept some vital energy in reserve to jet-heel his way past Barca.
Writing in his Mail on Sunday newspaper column, Robson stated: “Sir Alex has been a course and distance winner before, of course, and, while people may be frustrated with his team changes, he's doing it because he knows how tired his players can get chasing silverware on two fronts.
It was a gamble to leave Ronaldo on the bench and United weren't the same team without him. But the point is that United could afford to lose yesterday. They can't against Barcelona, West Ham and Wigan — and I'm sure Ronaldo will play in all those game"