Yes, it's definitely not bs for clicks and is coming from verifiable sources or you don't stick your neck on the line with such an explosive piece and the invariable consequences if you're lying.
There is something interesting in that article, it says that Ronaldo's gravitas was largely appreciated particularly by the younger players but... "Cristiano Ronaldo suggests younger Manchester United players dislike criticism"
There aren't many people older than Ronaldo so the reference to younger players by both parties can be perceived as youth players and/or first team players who are younger than him.
Lingard vs West Ham?
Nah I just watched it and didn't seem to match up, unless it cut away too soon? I think it was Bruno doing the shoving.
I think the creative license with Ronaldo is more extensive, but the nuance and little, particular insights, not.
Bruno gives him a couple of shoves in this. Although like you I seem to remember another incident this season where a player had to be somewhat forced to celebrate a goal, can't for the life of me think who it was.
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Ok now I've seen the full one it was definitely this that I remember.
Was reported at the time too, so wouldn't surprise me.
So I had a look at our goals from the season in games where we were winning and went on to win. Luckily there's literally a handful of games where this is true, and only one game where a player doesn't celebrate until McTomminay get's in his face. It appears to be Rashford, in the library, with the candlestick.
Any links to the Whitwell article?
Not only that, but Ronaldo is so singularly driven by success that he is unlikely to turn down a world-class manager just to have an easier life with a lesser light. And all of that assumes he'd have any decision-making power, when at best he'd be a consultee amongst many.
It's behind a paywall if you don't have a sub for the Athletic, but some Twitter accounts have been posting short excerpts like this this one. Might be worth going through their timeline:
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I think there was also an Elanga goal where Bruno was pushing him towards the fans. But in that case I read it as a "go and get your applause" type push.
Thanks for that, appreciate it.
He named an age group, so unless we ignore that, we know what Ronaldo was talking about.
Bailly went rogue ages ago. He should have been sold directly after the EL final anyway.
The source(s) also seemed more objective in Whitwell’s. I’ve seen Phelan’s name mentioned, which doesn’t feel unlikely.
That one was definitely Rashford
Absolute nonsense!
I have no doubt that many parts of that article are pure figments of the writer's imagination
Yeah you might be right with that one because Elanga was the first that came to my mind.
Are you seriously suggesting we should just ignore all of that on the assumption that it's just made-up journalistic nonsense? That level of negative briefing from a dressing room only happens when there are serious, serious problems in a squad. When that happens, it needs to be taken very seriously indeed. It doesn't even matter if the claims made in the leaks are true and reasonable or not, what matters is that they're being made. It doesn't happen in Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Spurs. And a year ago it wasn't happening in United either.
That was Elanga vs Ateltico when he was running the wrong way trying to find the fans in the away end.
