The Portuguese forward has enjoyed a sensational return to Manchester United in the summer, scoring crucial goals frequently for the club.
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The highlight of Manchester United’s summer transfer window was the return of star forward Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford. Taking no time to settle in, the Portuguese forward has enjoyed a sensational return to Manchester in the summer, scoring crucial goals frequently for the club. In the midweek, it was his towering header at the end that completed a sensational come-from-behind victory against Atalanta in the Champions League. Ronaldo has emphasised that he is back at Old Trafford to win trophies and also added that the team still needs time to adapt to recent changes. Apart from Ronaldo, United also signed Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho in the summer.
“We are in a moment in my opinion that Manchester (United) do a few changes; they buy me, they buy (Raphael) Varane and (Jadon) Sancho,” he told Sky Sports. “The adaptation will take time, even the system of the game that we play, but I think step by step we have to put it in our mind that everything is possible.
“I don’t speak only about my individual stuff, I put the collective in first place. To win things as a collective, it’s more easy to win individual stuff, I still think it’s possible. Everyone should know their role. I know my role in the team, in the club… my role is to score goals, to help the team with my experience and know-how to understand the game.
“If everyone is thinking like that, sacrifice for the team, I think we will be a better team. We have fantastic supporters behind us, fantastic stadium, fantastic team, so we have to carry on like that.”
Stating that he knows his role in the team, Ronaldo is not bothered about criticism, saying it’s part and parcel of the game. “I know when the team needs my help defensively. But my role in the club is to win, help the team to win and to score goals – [the defensive side] is part of my job. The people who don’t want to see that is because they don’t like me but to be honest I’m 36, I win everything so am I going to be worried about the people who say bad things about me? I sleep good at night. I go to my bed with my conscience very good. Keep going with that because I will still close mouths and win things,” he added.
Adding that he is enjoying his football, Ronaldo said, “Criticism is always part of the business. I’m not worried about that. And I see it as a good thing to be honest. If they worry about me or they speak about me, it’s because they know my potential and value in football still. So it’s good. I’ll give you an example: if you’re in a school and you’re the best student, you ask the worst student if he likes the best, they’ll say they don’t like him.”
“I think the main word is that I’m still happy and enjoying football. It doesn’t matter how many things I won in my career. I win everything but I’m still motivated. I’m in a new chapter of my life, even with my age, and this is why I am here – to try to win and I think Manchester needs to be at this level of winning and thinking to win big things so I’m here to help.”
Ronaldo appeared to be confused when asked about the idea of retiring from international football to extend his club career. “But why? I think it’s not my time yet. It’s not what people want, it’s what I want. It’s when I feel that I’m not capable to run, to dribble, to shoot, if the power is gone… but I still have that stuff so I want to continue because I’m still motivated,” he added.
“It’s the main word – [motivated] to do my stuff, to make people happy and my family happy and the fans and myself. I want to put the level even higher. You speak about Portugal but in the Champions League I have the most goals, the most wins, assists… everything. But I want to carry on. I like to play football. I feel good to make people happy.”
