In a conversation with former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at Old Trafford, the legendary ex-United manager was filmed saying “you should always start with your best players”.
Cristiano Ronaldo was kept on the bench until the 57th minute of United’s 1-1 draw with Everton on Saturday.
Sir Alex Ferguson suggest the Toffees were given a boost “when they saw Ronaldo wasn’t playing …”
Khabib then reminded Ferguson that Ronaldo came on in the second-half, before the Scot said players of his calibre should start.
Ronaldo appeared to storm off the pitch at full-time, looking frustrated and muttering to himself.
Lan Wright said on Match of the Day:
“When you’ve got Cristiano Ronaldo, you have to build a team and structure around him.So it can work for him.”
“If you’ve got him in your team, a match winner, and you can’t set it up for him to be playing in there, to do what he does, he’s going to walk off the pitch like that.”
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While United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defended his decision to rest the 36-year-old Portugal captain.
He said:
“Me and him we understand more than the experts,”
“It’s about picking the right moments to play him, to not play him.
He’s not a young puppy anymore but he’s as professional as ever and ready to come on and he came on today with energy and attitude.”
United assistant manager Mike Phelan has agreed a new deal with the club until 2024.
Phelan was a member of Ferguson’s coaching team.
Before returning to Old Trafford when Solskjaer was initially appointed caretaker manager in December 2018.
